The rising tide of illegal immigration and human smuggling across the borders is posing serious logistical and security challenges to the nations there

The recent incidents of riots, unrest and skirmishes between police and lawbreakers have once again brought forward the hidden pangs of the paradoxes in advanced countries. Such incidents after an intermission are clear indications that post-modern societies are likely to face more such issues. The unabated violence that started with the tragic death of Nahel, a teenager of North African descent in the suburb of Paris has thrown open myriad challenges to Paris leadership resulting in the widespread protests and deployment of more than forty-four thousand police personnel. Despite serious concerns about the delicate situation, there is also a need for immediate security response to those inciting violence leading to further provocation. On the other hand, the present crisis has raised the concern about the pattern of legality followed by police while using weapons in advanced industrial

Police in most countries are attuned to handling day-to-law order maintenance and information-gathering exercises. Whereas, the Police as an extremely vital source of security for the community should also take into account the desires and aspirations of the common masses. In this regard, steps should be taken to instil a strong sense of welfare into the techniques and content of policing particularly in handling delicate issues.

The continuing unrest after this incident has already affected many cities in France. This quagmire has highlighted a few crucial issues: First: the penchant for having a greater share in economic development often gets confused with the issue of identity crisis which provides a medium to organize themselves against the state. This is not an isolated incident, a few years ago the deaths of two boys running away from police custody in the suburbs of France led to a severe crisis when rioters and violent protesters created havoc causing the loss of huge public property and leading to the imposition of emergency. Many incidents of violence are taking place in other parts of Europe too. Not long ago, there was an incident of multiple gun attacks in Vienna which was the outcome of the misinterpretation of the question of identity. There are numerous examples where an isolated incident of conflict or violence gets misinterpreted in toxic and highly confused deliberately constructive narratives.

One such issue led to the beheading of a history teacher in France and the stabbing of three innocents in Nice a few years ago. These attacks are also reminders of an array of socio-political and global issues which Europe has to come to terms with. Secondly, any incident of violence is to be understood in totality leaving no room for getting flared up by either an individual or a group. The rising tide of illegal immigration and human smuggling across the borders in Europe has posed serious logistical and security challenges to France, Germany, Belgium, Italy and Britain.

Undoubtedly the leaders of Europe are in a Catch-22 situation on the issue of refugees and illegal migrants. It is high time countries developed a balanced approach to comprehend the vulnerability of the issue. While police should have a better understanding of the day-to-day law and order situations. Recent developments and changing circumstances have made the job of policing highly taxable. Any incident of excessive use of force is to be avoided because at times certain interested non-state actors are waiting to encash and give it an entirely different colour. Police personnel has to face and deal with tedious situations which require the quick presence of mind to handle delicate law and order problems at times getting provoked, and losing control in a spare moment can lead to severe complications. This kind of situation requires a strategy based on checks and balances. The recurrence of riots and unrest is symptomatic of a society’s body politic, torn asunder by varied threats and tensions. Very often, the social conditions that generate conflict and violence have external coordinates as well.

On the other hand, some policy analysts are of the view that rapid development in the post-1991 world and its requirements led to the influx of a lot of migrants even in highly industrialised countries. Such inter-relations between socio-economic conditions in different parts of the developing and even developed societies are becoming more and more obvious and causing major disenchantment among a few.

Thus, as societies globalised and the curtains of opacity are raised through increased inter-societal interaction at the international level, some people in underdeveloped countries are holding the powerful ones responsible for their inferior socio-economic positions as enunciated by AG Frank in his Development of Underdevelopment approach. There is another angle attached to this which views the system of even the most advanced societies: developed (Centre -Rich) and the underdeveloped (Periphery-Poor) within the same prosperous (country as a whole) system.

There has always been a smooth international network of collaboration among the various interested syndicates creating opportunities out of miseries. The question of illegal migration and related crime particularly in the areas still awaiting their status upliftment generates breeding grounds for problems by giving it a flavour of ethnicity. Rapid changes in most societies led to amorphous economic growth on the one hand but gradually, led to a rise in high ambitions and greater expectations among those who were on the margin of power or worst among those who are on receiving ends.

The recent developments across the globe have proved the philosophical aphorism enunciated by the most celebrated Political Analyst of the 1990s Professor Samuel P. Huntington quite true. Even some highly developed and prominent societies are increasingly facing challenges in myriad forms regarding their security concern. Hence, there is a need to carefully examine the incidents and prepare a detailed sophisticated communication network, better management of local contacts and sensitisation of personnel to issues relating to human rights, civil liberties, etc. Above all, there is a need of developing the capability to anticipate security needs. This can be done by conducting specialised courses for monitoring security situations with a humane approach.

(Author, a recipient of the Bharat Gaurav award is a professor and an expert on strategic  affairs)