Five major problems confront France: getting the economy back to sustainable growth; dealing with the alienated who are heavily represented in the country’s Muslim population; the rise of the far right (fueled by poor economic prospects and worries over immigration); redefining France’s role in Europe in light of an economically more competitive Germany; and poor leadership at the top. The economic malaise has socio-political consequences, partially reflected in a sizeable alienated minority of French, mainly of North African and sub-Saharan African descent. Many of them live in the banlieues (outlying suburbs), or “sensitive urban zones”, characterized by high unemployment (usually well above the national average), people living below the poverty line in subsidized housing, facing poor educational opportunities and putting up with high levels of crime. The banlieues have also evolved as societies apart from the rest of France, with a population linked by social media to events in the Arab world, including a focus on radical Islam. The riots of 2005, which resulted in a state of emergency in parts of greater Paris, only reinforced the sense of alienation. The annual burning of cars in urban areas at New Year’s has only reinforced the sense of youth unruliness and discontent. nationalinterest.org/feature/france-dying-11377
Posted on: Tue, 30 Sep 2014 19:00:00 +0000
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