[243.1] THE FRENCH UPRISINGS IN CONTEXT

In a different tenor to Gary Younge's necessarily provocative perspective, there's a thoughtful article (France and the Muslim myth) from the Observer's European editor, Jason Burke, looks at the fears and half-truths surrounding the more than two weeks' worth of rioting that began in the smouldering ghettos of Paris. As he points out, the underlying issues are global. But to complete the picture he needs to say more about the travails of an economically reductionist globalisation, and the aspirations of traditional societies faced by change. Some of the latter issues are mentioned in Rowan Williams' interesting new piece on 'respect', probing behind the latest buzz-word. The coverage and discussion on Pickled Politics has been helpful, as ever.

Meanwhile, this from a briefing on religion and state in France, on the BBC Religion and Ethics site: Many people believe that the French model of a secular state is not working. French ethnic minorities are very much aware of the disparity between them and white-French citizens. The riots of October 2005 reflect how aggrieved minorities feel. They feel victimised because of their culture, because of their colour and because of their religious orientation. For these minority groups, there is no space for a dual-identity that incorporates French-ness and religion.

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