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French riots expose deep divisions in society

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The suburbs of Paris erupted in violence after a police officer shot dead Nahel Marzouk, a 17-year-old French citizen of Algerian origin, on June 27. French cities and towns famous for museums and wines witnessed distressing scenes of torched vehicles, extensive arson attacks, and looting.

Around 200 shops were looted, and 300 bank branches were vandalized. Protestors clashed with the police, even as the President appealed for calm and thousands of arrests were made to restore order. Estimates suggest that the cost of repairs would exceed 1 billion euros.

The French are not new to protests and strikes. Street protests and work stoppages effectively demonstrate public ire and discord against government actions and reforms.

Earlier in the year, millions took to the streets to protest against President Macron’s decision to raise the pension age to 64 from 62. The changes were deemed essential for France’s financial health. Late last year, energy workers secured higher pay after stopping work.

But the nature of protests seems to have changed. The “very high level of violence” is raising concerns across Europe. The EU Commissioner for Justice Didier Reynders called for “a rethink” on the country’s law enforcement.

“In France, what has been very striking over the years, with the Yellow Vests movement, pension reform, and now these riots – every time there is a very high level of violence,” he said. “We really need to examine it, because it’s problematic; sometimes it’s the behavior of a certain number of police officers. We can see it in the tragic events that have occurred, and also in the behavior of people who have the right to demonstrate freely – it’s a fundamental right – but not to loot stores, destroy businesses or destroy public property.”

The latest riots have exposed the often-overlooked reality of French society. Lofty ideals of “Liberty, Equality, and Fraternity” are written into the country’s constitution. Yet, the recent riots have shed light on deep-seated racism and Islamophobia. Many point to the lack of integration among even second-generation immigrants.

The far right is choosing to portray the wave of violence as a consequence of France’s liberal immigration policy, while others point to the discrimination faced by minorities. For instance, most victims of traffic stop shootings since 2017 have been of either black or Arab origin.

The division in French society is glaringly apparent. Even as President Macron condemned the shooting as “inexplicable and inexcusable,” a fundraiser set up for the policeman who shot Nahel Marzouk crossed 1.47 million euros ($1.6 million), much more than was raised for the victim. Meanwhile, donations to the fundraiser for Nahel’s family raised just 215,000 euros ($234,079.10).

Other issues are contributing to the crisis. The glaring wealth gap in the country and the rising cost of living, made worse by the Ukraine war, have not helped matters. The Covid pandemic has also contributed to worsening the situation. According to the government’s statistics, the virus impact and fatalities among Blacks and other minority communities were much more severe than in others.

There is even concern that the popularity of social media may have played a role in youngsters enthusiastically taking part in the rioting and looting. Reels and short videos of looting and arson were “celebrated” on social networks.

Massive police deployments have been made across the country to restore calm. A call to end the violence by Nahel Marzouk’s family has helped soothe the crisis. But the nearly week-long violence is seen as a wakeup call to the French establishment that many say has followed a failed “official policy of color blindness.”

TIPP Takes

Geopolitics And Geoeconomics

1. UN Wants More Access To Ukraine Nuclear Plant Amid Sabotage Warnings – Al Jazeera

UN’s nuclear watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), has called for increased access to the Russian-controlled Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant as Moscow and Kyiv accused each other of planning acts of sabotage at Europe’s largest nuclear power facility.

French Riots Expose Deep Divisions In Society

The IAEA said it sought additional access to the Zaporizhzhia plant to “confirm the absence of mines or explosives at the site.”


2. Russia ‘Lost Nearly Half’ Of Its Combat Effectiveness Since Invading Ukraine: UK – Al Arabiya

Russia has lost approximately half of its combat effectiveness since it launched its invasion of Ukraine, Britain’s Chief of the Defense Staff, Admiral Tony Radakin, told a parliamentary hearing.

French Riots Expose Deep Divisions In Society

He stressed that the invasion was a “catastrophic failure for Russia.” He added that the consequences of Russia’s war on Ukraine included: “[It] has a diminished place in the world [and] an economy under pressure.”


3. Slow Weapons Delivery Delayed Counteroffensive – Zelenskyy – AFP

Slow deliveries of weapons to Ukraine delayed its planned counteroffensive, allowing Russia to bolster its defenses in occupied areas, including with mines, Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in an interview.

French Riots Expose Deep Divisions In Society

In another interview, Ukraine’s military commander-in-chief Valeriy Zaluzhny also expressed frustration at the West’s slow deliveries of promised weaponry.


4. Three Russian Fighter Jets Harassed U.S. Drones Over Syria: U.S. Air Force – Al Arabiya

Three U.S. MQ-9 drones were on a mission against ISIS targets when three Russian fighter jets began harassing the drones, according to Lt. Gen. Grynkewich, the U.S. general responsible for air operations in the Middle East.

Last month, the U.S. deployed F-22 Raptors from Langley Air Force Base to the Middle East due to Russian aircraft’s increasingly unsafe and unprofessional behavior.


5. China Hosts Russian Warships That Passed By Taiwan, Japan – Reuters

The vessels, belonging to Russia’s Pacific Fleet, are expected to hold a joint drill with the Chinese navy during their visit, demonstrating the enduring military cooperation between the two countries.

French Riots Expose Deep Divisions In Society

The two frigates – Gromkiy and Sovershenniy – made port at the financial hub of Shanghai, Chinese state television reported.


6. U.S. Voices Strong Opposition To China’s Metal Export Control Plans – Kyodo News

The United States strongly opposed China’s plans to curb exports next month on gallium and germanium, metals crucial for producing semiconductors.

French Riots Expose Deep Divisions In Society

The new development came as the United States and China sought to stabilize their complicated relationship by increasing the frequency of high-level talks.


7. U.S. Turning Taiwan Into ‘Powder Keg’ – Beijing – A.P.

China’s Defense Ministry accused the United States of turning Taiwan into a powder keg with its latest sales of military equipment worth $440.2 million to the self-governing democratic island.

French Riots Expose Deep Divisions In Society

Defense Ministry spokesman Col. Tan Kefei said, “The U.S. ignores China’s core concerns, crudely interferes in China’s internal affairs and deliberately escalates tensions across the Taiwan Strait.”


8. NGO Accuses Chinese Renewables Firms Of Abuses In 18 Countries – AFP

Chinese companies investing in minerals used in the renewable energy industry have been accused of more than 100 human rights and environmental abuses worldwide since 2021, according to a Business & Human Rights Resource Center report.

French Riots Expose Deep Divisions In Society

China dominates the processing and refining of minerals critical to the transition to renewables – including copper, nickel, and cobalt – and has poured investment into facilities in resource-rich countries such as Indonesia, Peru, and the Democratic Republic of Congo.


9. U.S. Navy Says Iran Tried To Seize Two Oil Tankers Near Strait Of Hormuz – RFE/RL

The U.S. Navy said, in both cases, the Iranian naval vessels backed off after the U.S. Navy responded to distress signals and that both commercial ships continued their voyages.

French Riots Expose Deep Divisions In Society

It was the latest in a series of attacks on ships in the area since 2019.


10. Saudi Arabia Says It Silenced Oil ‘Cynics’ With Russia’s Help – Middle East Eye

Saudi Arabia’s energy minister said a recent decision to prolong oil production cuts with Russia was partly a move to silence ‘cynics’ who had reported an alleged rift between Moscow and Riyadh.

French Riots Expose Deep Divisions In Society

On Monday, Saudi Arabia said that a production cut by Riyadh of one million barrels per day (bpd) that was first announced in June would extend into August and could be extended again.


11. Israeli Operation In Jenin Officially Over: Army – AFP

Israel’s army declared the end of a two-day operation in the Jenin area of the occupied West Bank, during which 12 Palestinians and one Israeli soldier were killed.

French Riots Expose Deep Divisions In Society

The Israeli military launched the raid on the Jenin refugee camp early on Monday under the orders of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s hard-right government.


12. South Korea Respects IAEA Report On Fukushima Wastewater Discharge: Official – Yonhap

An official said that the South Korean government respects the outcome of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)’s safety review of Japan’s plan to release contaminated water from its crippled Fukushima plant.

French Riots Expose Deep Divisions In Society

On Tuesday, the U.N. nuclear watchdog announced that its two-year review found Japan’s plan to release water from the plant into the sea consistent with its safety standards.


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