How France was forced to reassess its ideas about radicalised youth
A really interesting France24 (TV) report that opens with:
Quote:
When Paris was hit by two major terrorist attacks in 2015, France embarked on a painful journey to understand the radicalisation of its youth. Three years later, researchers have discredited initial theories about the “typical” home-grown terrorist.
Link:https://www.france24.com/en/20181111...theories-minds
I suspect other interested parties, including "experts" will not be pleased. At least the French have learnt faster than other nations - hopefully.
From Criminals To Terrorists And Back? Quarterly Report: France, vol. 2
A report from Globsec, a NGO based in Slovakia (who have appeared before here IIRC). Perhaps their observations have appeared here before; anyway:
Quote:
A pattern seems to emerge. Indeed, our research found out that
:
- 97% of jihadists that carried out the 22 successful attacks in France since 2012 were known either for radicalisation (82%) or by the police
- 79% were either on France’s terror watch list (61%) or on that of other European nations
- Out of 78 French jihadists either arrested for terrorist offences, killed while staging terrorist attacks or fugitives from justice, 49% had previous convictions and 19% had been multiple offenders, just like Cherif Chekatt, with long track records of classical criminal activity.
A few policy recommendations:
- 15% of the individuals on France’s terror watch list are foreigners: this calls for France’s following of the successful Italian model when possible, i.e. deporting all the non-nationals or dual nationals to their country of origin when convicted of radicalisation. Despite being at the top of the list of targets of Islamic State, Italy has not witnessed a single jihadist attack.
- The French government is refusing to look into this while leaving the field open for the far-right to suggest this. A measure that is supported by 83% of the French population.
- Focus on monitoring radicalised multiple offenders that may have a higher probability to carry out a terror attack (as seen in the case of Chekatt).
Link:https://www.globsec.org/publications...qjWvC4jAw6A.99
Philip Morris plc sponsored the research.
Gilets Jaunes is a French crisis; part of a wider, existential crisis for all
The Yellow Vest protest movement in France has attracted considerable media reporting, sometimes with decent comments; his article by John Lichfield, an experienced British journalist living in Paris beats them all.
Link:https://beergbrexit.blog/2019/02/02/...-giletsjaunes/
He describes why this protest, sometimes violent, has it's geographical roots beyond the cities and reflects the frustration of many. Plus the reaction of the government, the police and the extremes. One of the unreported aspects is the widespread damage to speed cameras.
This is not a France-only phenomenon. It sits best here for now.
He ends in part with:
Quote:
What scares me is not the fact of the GJ movement – not the fact of the anger – but the fact of the fury, the white-hot fury. We speak a great deal about radicalisation, especially of young Muslims etc. But what explains the radicalisation of home carers and garage mechanics in small towns who don’t understands the basics of how their own country’s political and tax system works but know they’re out of the loop, left behind. They have been persuaded that they are being cheated, conspired against. This is partly explained by lack of trusted guides such as political parties, media, church, unions – to shape public opinion. But the white-hot anger can only be explained by the facing mirrors, the multiplier effect, the compound or viral effect of social media. Thus, the Gilets Jaunes is a French crisis but also part of a wider, existential crisis for all 21st century economies and democracies.
Thanks to 'Red Rat' providing the pointer.
An important resource for those wanting to better understand French jihadism
A book review of the 2017 book by Gilles Kepel, a French academic expert on terrorism, by Aaron Zelin and yes the book is in English. The title is from the last sentence of the review.
Link:https://www.academia.edu/38395664/A_...d_in_the_West_