BEYOND PARIS TERRORISM

Challenges extend to differences between allies

Many people argue that, despite imperfections, black spots and contradictions, Western Europe’s democracy is the best, most advanced and humane political system on earth. This writer agrees completely with that view.

The march that took place yesterday in Paris shows that — despite differences — the main leaders of these countries stand by that way of life and perceive last week’s terrorist attacks in Paris as a very serious threat. The question is if the threats faced by European democracy are limited to terrorist attacks from specific fundamentalist groups. Or if it might be under both internal and external pressures, not necessarily as violent as terrorism but clearly challenging.

Right now, the spotlight is on the Muslim population. A conservative estimate is that six percent of the EU population adheres to Islam. The problem is that in some EU member states, the popular perception is that such proportion is much higher. In France, the eight percent Muslim population is perceived to be 31 percent. In the UK, the real figure of five percent turns into 21 percent in people’s imagination. The German psyche is more moderate. It thinks in terms of 19 percent of Muslims where there are only six percent. Consequently, it comes as no surprise that ultra-right parties like France’s Front National or Great Britain’s UK Independence Party are growing. And — in both cases — the Western European way of life would be a primal target if those politicians came into power.

To be realistic, security agencies will have to increase their surveillance over Islamist-related groups in the search of terrorists hiding in their midst. This is never comfortable and mistakes will happen. With luck, they will be limited to unnecessary harassment. But there could be — as has been the case already — nastier incidents. It is a vicious circle where the search for the few irritates the many, who, in turn, become more alienated from the authorities. The management of surveillance and investigation on Muslim groups without incurring in serious mistakes is — right now — a major challenge for European governments.

But the challenges are not only internal and limited to fighting terrorism.

The Western European model is quite unique. Could it become isolated? Some will take comfort from the presence of many non-European political leaders at yesterday’s march. But cynics (realists?) will argue that some of the non-European leaders who attended yesterday’s mass tribute in Paris, did so not because of their commitment to this particular — and refined — type of democracy, but because EU countries are still very relevant players, which merits positive signals in critical situations like the one faced by France last week. And cynics will further argue that, in spite of the global expressions of solidarity, realism demands that the optimism triggered by the support offered by a number of non-European countries’ heads of government or their ministers, is submitted to some critical analysis.

Those enamoured with EU main partners’ vision of democracy are, in global terms, a minority, and have different levels of disagreement with rather important countries. Take the case of China. Human Rights in China are a serious concern for the EU. In a meeting which took place last month, the European side raised issues like “the rights of persons belonging to minorities, especially in Tibet and Xinjiang, freedom of religion or belief, freedom of expression (off-line and on-line), freedom of peaceful assembly and association, the due process of law, arbitrary detention, and the death penalty.” A list unlikely to make the Chinese happy.

Then there is Russia. European democracy goes well beyond using elections to choose governments, so it is easy to add Russia to the list of countries which do not share the values of Western Europe. The current confrontation over the Ukraine crisis only makes matters worse.

In addition, and risking strong controversy, even democratic US has strong differences with the Europeans. Witness the espionage scandal leading to the CIA station chief being kicked out of Germany last July. Not to mention the fact that the US government’s pragmatism at the time of dealing with Islamist fundamentalist groups which then boomerang as enemies makes some European Governments quite unhappy.

In short, the other big powers show various levels of difference from the Europeans’ democratic ideal. Which, in light of all this, seems to be a rare commodity. So rare in fact, that it might need to take a new look at these other realities and find a way to manage the differences.

@andresfederman

CREDITS: BUENOS AIRES HERALD