UK society was taken by surprise, and the whole world looked on in astonishment. The scenes of violence and looting in the streets of Tottenham, and then across the country send a warning message to politicians, parents, police, and to the average citizen. Something is wrong, deeply wrong, in British society. A young adult, 26 years old, was shot and killed. He was apparently unarmed; it seems to have been a police blunder. The family decided to demonstrate with dignity to express their sadness and their concern about the behavior of the police in shooting without warning, as if a young Black British citizen’s life was worth less than a white’s. Their concern was legitimate. There is still a great deal of racism towards Black people in UK society.
But what emerged out a non-violent demonstration had nothing to do with the struggle for dignity and justice. Very quickly young gang members took advantage of the situation and started to destroy and to burn cars, buildings, looting and robbing innocent people. Unlike events in France in 2005, there were no social and political slogans coming from the crowds of overexcited young people. It was all about destroying and looting—and not a sign of the cultural or religious failure of the “British model of integration.” Our multicultural system may not have been called into question, but, beyond political beliefs, racial or religious affiliation, modern British democracy has been shaken. The social malaise is tangible.
It has been said that the young looters were not really interested in social justice and equality but were influenced by video games and the virtual culture. It seemed as easy to destroy in reality as it appears to be on the internet. If this is true, then the situation is even worse than it seems at first glance. Not only our role as parents is being challenged, but that of our public and private schools and the educational system as a whole.
The question is clear: with such a powerful virtual culture, what should be taught in our schools and how can poor and unemployed parents deal with these issues and be helped by accessible and efficient social services? The police must be deployed to secure our streets but it cannot be the only response to acute social problems. Even though the young demonstrators and looters voiced no social or political claims, we are dealing with generations of young girls and boys who are true victims of social injustice and political neglect.
Instead of dealing with such demanding issues, our politicians are reacting to collective fears or mass excitement. It is impossible to identify, in their political agenda, a vision, a social policy that proposes short or long-term solutions. In fact, there are some similarities between our politicians and the young looters in the streets. They both are driven by a powerful culture of emotion that is the product of new technologies and means of communications. The politicians, in a civilized way, try to cater to the raw emotions and expectations of the citizens. Obsessed with the results of the next election, they follow the dominant and fashionable political trends. What we get instead is the normalization of populist slogans that ignore the real problems of society. In a less civilized way, the young rioters are nurtured by the same mass culture of speed, emotion and fashion: where there are no longer ideals, destruction is the easiest way to express an idea, or the absence of ideas.
The UK riots are a faithful mirror of our times. When emotions gain the upper hand over politics and social movements (or disorder), it is time to resist by rethinking our educational models. The internet culture of indiscriminate violence and destruction must be challenged by an educational vision of personality building and civic commitment. True freedom is knowledge—not blind rejection of society. Politicians must reconcile themselves with politics, just as our society must rediscover rationality, knowledge and accountability. A purely emotional citizen is as dangerous as a politician with neither ideals nor vision. Both are early warning signs of a potential implosion of our democratic systems if we fail to take them seriously. The contemporary youth madness in the streets of the UK is the mirror of our adult political blindness. We should not be blaming first the young.
bonjoure
c est dans la culture britanique que de cree des status identitaire raçiale ou religieuse comme ils l ont fais en INDE
et au PAKISTAN mais les anglais sont majoritairment laiques ou hates et la fibre religieuse est toleree mais pas admis offiçiellement et de plus depuis la guerre contre le terrorisme les politique europeens resserent les rangs pour un meme combat c est un simple boum-rang passager
Politicians have to admit the system failure and not to blame just the youth .
People living in the Uk know about the reality of the situation . We can see in many places across UK how the tension is high in the streets and frustration on people eyes and behaviour .
The recent riots are a reflection of the truth image of UK 2011 ,people are burning from inside for a long time waiting for opportunities to express their grieves in many ways .
It is time for the government to accept the fact without arrogance that the system is a failure and they lost their own children a long time ago for diverse reasons .
The selfishness of politician who care just for their survival and the media who are shaping the stories as they wish ,have been playing a big roles in this failure . They have been for decades just focusing on other countries problems but forget their own problems
On the other hand i dedicate a song to David Starkey :Michael Jackson Song : « Black or white »
It does not matter black or white , it is all about british people !
I do not agree with you professor Ramadan. Many of your points are right but you talk as if internet was the first one to blame as responsible for this situation. Definitely internet plays a huge role in education and many things are to blame when it comes to that.
_
Yet, what we is happening in the UK is not just about education. In France, the social and political slogans were not as clear as you seem to descibe them : people were also burning cars, destroying shops etc. This had to do with a situation of unemployement, discrimination, social justice and this is the same thing in the UK.
Remember that what triggered french and also UK riots is : young people killed because of the police.
I do not like the way media and thinkers put the things down : only talking about gangs,robbing, burning etc.
Malcolm X underlined this point as he was talking about Harlem’s riots claiming that if they do that it’s because of a lack of social justice and not the contrary.
Je suis d’accord avec vous et un peu étonnée de l’analyse. En effet, je n’ai pas non plus le souvenir que le soulèvement de 2005 en France ait été politisé. C’est dans un deuxième temps que cela s’est produit (AC le feu, les Indigènes, le mouvement social des quartiers populaires, la Zone d’Education Populaire…). Le Royaume-Uni a amorcé sa désintégration sociale dès l’ère Thatcher. Est-il si surprenant que des causes structurellement similaires (idéologiquement diverses avec l’acceptation des communautés)conduisent à de telles violences? Qui quelque part est une contre-violence… Reste que peut-être au RU il n’existe pas de relais politique et citoyen.. Je ne le sais pas. Et dans ce cas, les conséquences sur la prise de conscience seront évidemment différentes…
F
[http://lemonde.fr/international/article/2011/08/20/la-revolte-des-laisses-pour-compte-britanniques_1561664_3210.html#ens_id=1558316->http://abonnes.lemonde.fr/international/article/2011/08/20/la-revolte-des-laisses-pour-compte-britanniques_1561664_3210.html#ens_id=1558316]
Dans Le Monde aujourd’hui.
F
i get that youth think freedom is doing whatever u want a do but true freedom is when u find peace in your heart
public and private schools and the educational system as a whole.young girls and boys are true victims of social injustice and political neglect.
La révolution du printemps européenne est elle proche insha Allah
triste scénario a Londres…que Dieu vous protège ainsi que votre famille professeur…
love from Brussels
Thanks Dr. Ramadan. I want to emphasize the deep polarization between the rich and poor in modern western society. I believe you need huge wealth to find your way through in those times. A very high degree to find a respectable job, a powerful network of friends and associates, too many additional skills… etc. You need money to achieve all those goals, and this money is owned by fewer people day after day. It’s like society is being divided into two camps: Those who have everything and those who have nothing. It’s dangerous.
Dear Ahmed,
we need Our Creator Most High and Most Majestic, our best intentions, efforts and prayers, that’s all — if you’re muslim just like me. The system beats you when you think you have to follow its values. Based on so much falsehood, it makes you think you need all you’ve mentionned (money, status, network, etc…). They’re not an end, they’re just means. If you do fulfill exactly those perceived needs, then would you be where a true muslim should be? I hope anyway.
We have a very distinct set of criterias and by being consequently grateful at every step, by being in concordance with the sunnah, we can make all the necessary moves, insha Allah.
We focus often too much on acquiring and ascending in worldly terms, while we forget it’s the relationship with Allah Azza Wa Jal and relationship with our loved ones that needs constant care. After Allah SWT, people first, then things. Any hardship encountered is to make us praise our Creator for His Glory and we know very well that every sincere sacrifice will be rewarded insha Allah. When clueless people will rate me based on external highs and lows, I’ll know that it’s how khusyu I am during prayer that make me satisfied or not.
It’s tough indeed to maintain different, often conflicting standards. Such is the path of the believers. But less ambitious people (for the hereafter) need inspiration from leaders who show integrity and peace at heart.
May Allah keeps providing strength, guidance and solace for those in need in these ruthless times. When ignorance rules, I’m afraid danger is never far. Please stay safe!
Superbe article cher Monsieur !
We are in the age of globalised blindness. What is obstructing the view? Who is obstructing the view? We find in the answer to the second question plural responsible parties, including our own.
The following documentary is about marketing to kids, but we can surprisingly recognize ourselves as adults in it (not without embarassment), when it comes to media consumption:
« Consuming Kids: The Commercialization of Childhood » (2008)
http://youtu.be/0uUU7cjfcdM
We all should rush ourselves in the other direction of the looters, who were after lower-worldly possessions and submitting to violent, primal desires. In this Holy Month of Ramadan, we train and rush ourselves towards God’s forgiveness and trust His directions and guidance instead of our limited own. We ask Him humbly for knowledge (sacred and profane) and understanding, exactly what the society is deprived of. And based on this rigorously trained discipline instilled by our fasting, this is the contribution every muslim should make to the world and modernity, whether expected or not by the non-believers. Insha Allah !