Germany Debates the Riots in France


In the wake of the violence in France, several German media suggest that the source of this supposed threat is connected to Islam. Peter Philipp disagrees and argues the socio-political conditions are the main factor for the riots

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Some media were quick to identify Muslim fanaticism behind the riots – but up until now representatives of Muslim groups have openly worked to help ease tensions on the streets | "Is the wave of violence now going to spill over to Germany?" asked the Cologne tabloid "Express" – a question that came after eight cars were burned in Berlin and Bremen. The wave of violence currently rolling across France is raising concerns that similar unrest could spread to Germany and, not surprisingly, the press is stirring up fears among the public.

After all, sensational headlines sell more newspapers. Additional fear mongers are jumping on the bandwagon now as other media join the popular press in warning that Germany could also be in danger.

The source of the threat

These are the same critics who have repeatedly warned of "parallel societies" and "too many foreigners" and a lack of willingness among immigrants to assimilate into German society.

And, in the wake of the violence in France, they say that the source of this supposed threat is right where they always suspected it: among the Muslim minority.

Even a respectable publication like Germany's major weekly "Der Spiegel" failed to resist the tide: An article on the unrest in France included a map listing the number of Muslims living in France, the UK, Spain, and the Netherlands.

Despite these rampant fears, it is perfectly clear that, although the majority of rioters are Muslims, this has little to do with why they are running amok.

Desperate economic and socio-political conditions

The reasons behind these riots are far more closely linked to the desperate economic and socio-political conditions under which many minorities are forced to live.

Such unrest could be compared to outbreaks of violence among underprivileged Afro-Americans in the US, occasional clashes between underprivileged groups on the streets of Britain, and sporadic fighting between Turkish youths and young ethnic German immigrants from Russia.

The issue here is not religion affiliation, but rather limited opportunities, resulting from a number of factors, such as a lack of education, which prevents young people from entering the professional world. General high unemployment can also play a role. But religion is certainly one of the least important factors.

Religious fanatics and demagogues could be tempted to misuse the built-up frustration among disadvantaged youth for their own purposes. But, up until now, this has not happened. Quite the opposite: representatives of Muslim groups have openly worked to help ease tensions on the streets.

German politicians fortunately react very differently than their French counterparts. French Interior Minister Nicolas Sarkozy threw oil on the fire when he spoke of "rabble" and "scum". Such language would have provoked calls for his resignation if he were a politician in Germany. In France, they unleashed this wave of violence.

By contrast, in Germany even law-and-order politicians like the Bavarian Interior Minister Günther Beckstein are calling for increased efforts to promote integration. This is not just another call on minorities to do more, but rather an indication of the efforts made by the government, agencies, and the majority population to address the needs of minorities.

Such realizations are a fresh departure from widespread expectations that it is primarily up to immigrants to make adjustments.

Another major difference is that only a fraction of immigrants in Germany have acquired German citizenship, something that remains difficult despite recent legislation that reduces legal barriers to naturalization. The remaining immigrants are called "guest workers" or "migrants", terms that seem to imply that these people are only temporarily in Germany.

In France, on the other hand, the immigrants are called "immigrés" and in their "banlieues" they have long since realized that they live there as little more than second-class citizens.

The closest analogy in Germany would be young ethnic German immigrants (from the former Soviet Union). They are officially Germans – and are therefore not listed in any official statistics on "foreigners" – yet they have enormous difficulties adjusting to life in German society.

German Muslims perceived as foreigners

A Turk, Greek, Italian or an Iranian who has made a real effort to integrate himself into German society will tend to succeed, even though he must do so almost entirely on his own.

Most immigrants in Germany are not really perceived as "foreigners". This dubious "honor" is reserved for the Muslims. In Germany, the majority of Muslims are Turks. Skeptics see them as everything from "culturally too foreign" to "non-integratable". Nevertheless, it is common knowledge that it takes two to integrate.

The majority population has to be willing to create the necessary conditions, for example, in the education sector. If nothing else, this basic recognition could be the lesson that Germany learns from the riots in France. What we need now is to remain calm and level-headed. There is absolutely no reason to push the panic button.

Peter Philipp

© DEUTSCHE WELLE/DW-WORLD.DE/Qantara.de 2005

Translated from the German by Paul Cohen


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