Suburbs on the brink, again

The two figures speak volumes about the alarming situation in working-class neighbourhoods in France. The unemployment rate for men aged between 15 and 24 has risen from 36.6% in 2004 to 41.7% in 2008, and a third of the population lives below the poverty line (€908 per month) compared to 12% nationally. The annual report of the National Observatory of ZUS (‘zones urbaines sensibles’ - sensitive urban areas) published on 30th November paints a broader picture of 4.5 million people living in these neighbourhoods who are the victims of all kinds of social, economic, urban and educational discrimination. According to Le Monde, the blame lies with the passive attitude of national politicians who “are only interested in the topic of violence”. Four years on from the riots that left the banlieues in flames, the threat of further violent flare-ups remains. “I sense that we’re on the brink of social revolt,” says the worried mayor of a town on the outskirts of Paris. “(…) Does it have to explode before we start to take this seriously?”