New France

With the riots in France going into the third week some people are suggesting that this is the fault of liberal immigration policies. What they seem to have missed is the fact that the rioters are not new immigrants but second-generation French citizens. Language barriers and foreign education are not reason for the situation in which they find themselves. They were born in France, educated in France, understand the French institutions and so forth. The failure lies not in immigration but what happens after immigration. It is the cultural and institutional racism so pervasive but largely ignored in French society that is to blame. The ghettoization of entire neighbourhoods and government neglect are just the recipe for riot, regardless of country, culture, race, and any other classifications. Instead of looking at immigration policies, the French government should look at their institutions in the riot areas. They should also look at the US cities that had recovered from urban race riots to see what measures and improvements are successful in improving the situation of people in those areas. They should also have better laws against racism in education and employment. The French must now acknowledge the fact that these people are French and not foreigners.