The Muslim revolution finally hit Europe. Oh but wait, wasn't that when London subways and busses were bombed, how about the Madrid train bombings. If the riots in France are a wakeup call, I would say you overslept. Why should the U.S.A. even care you ask? May I remind you what happened the last time a segment of the European population was upset and felt marginalized? France is now realizing how its socialist policies together with open immigration can have their consequences. Despite its decreasing intensity we can't ignore the implications of this rebellion. One that is so complexly intertwined with world affairs and issues central to France and Europe; it's hard to even begin to explain it.
We often hear complaints of social inequity and blame being placed on the French government. People seem wary to point out that the immigrant Muslim population in France clearly identifies themselves as Muslims first, and then French. Essentially as the Wall Street Journal on Monday, November 7th put it; "promoting a separate society within a society." This is supported by a statement on November 15th, from the French employment minister that discrimination of immigrants who practice polygamy (illegal in France) may have contributed to the hostility. Along with the controversial headscarf ban, we can begin to grasp this alienation.
Others will indicate that Islam was founded by a revolutionary who in his later period was violent, condoning murder of adulterers and non-believers. While this may sound compelling on the surface, I believe it will not hold up. This is evidenced by the millions of practicing Muslims who are peaceful and wish to live in harmony. Also of note is the historical precedent that any religion can succumb to fanatical perversion and hate. The sorrowing news is that extremism of any sorts is not always limited to the fringe. Growing despair and resentment of authority can feed off hate speech spewed by fundamentalist Clerics and Jihadists.
Furthermore, there are many Islamist leaders who have ideas of reestablishing a vast Islamic empire in the Middle East. Those same people believe that areas such as France and Spain belong under this kingdom or Caliphate, as it is known. Now factor in that 10% of the population of France is Muslim, many of whom are disaffected second generation children of immigrants.
With that in mind, describing this problem as a result of societal, religious and cultural conflicts is oddly enough, the easy answer.
The deeper issue is overpopulation. Often too broad and difficult to recognize, it is inevitably over looked in most discussions about geo-political affairs. As people become prosperous, resourceful, and grow, we reach a point where things start becoming miserable, there's overcrowding and not quite enough to go around. People eventually uproot themselves and move to a better life, the process repeats. It's the unavoidable story of the human condition told throughout time and across continents. In this example, overpopulation, magnified by destitute living conditions in northern Africa, leads to immigration towards more prosperous Europe. The modern description of the Muslim world versus the west and Israel is really a human manifestation of this problem.
In other words, Christians, Jews, Muslims, secularists and members of any other belief can and have historically lived together, as long as there is enough space and resources to go around. When overpopulation creeps up on a society that is typically oblivious, lines based on cultural, religious or racial differences are drawn. Sadly, history shows us that the common mitigation of this problem is war.
For lack of new land and opportunity we must look to prevention as a solution, which provides for its own moral and practical problems. The momentous, elusive and highly unpredictable task of limiting growth of any population is possible in our modern world. It will take a lifetime of dedication and vast multidisciplinary research and analysis to accomplish this goal ethically, which leaves us with one question, are we too late?
Steven Ross reminds you to have 2.1 children when you start a family. Contact him at ross.539@osu.edu.
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