The French Riots of 2005

In the fall of 2005, France experienced the most significant urban riots in contemporary history, with unrest beginning in Clichy-sous-Bois, a poor district on the outskirts of Paris, and spreading to some 300 neighborhoods across the country.

Sociologist Laurent Mucchielli, a specialist in issues of delinquency, violence, and security policy, held a talk at the Harvard Club of New York in October 2007 in an attempt to go beyond the headlines and place the riots in a larger historical and socio-economic context. This brief summarizes the topics of his discussion.

Read Laurent Mucchielli’s brief on The French Riots of 2005 here