`Bill Tupman, University of Exeter:

MULTICULTURALISM, MINORITIES AND POLICING.

INTRODUCTION.
This paper will be concentrated primarily on ethnic minorities and their religious and cultural
aspects, and the way these produce law and order related questions. The following subjects
are analysed:
- The demographic background;
- Policing in a multicultural society;
- What sorts of minorities exist in contemporary society?
- Problems in the relationship between law and order and minorities;
- Policies to overcome these problems
DEMOGRAPHIC BACKGROUND.
General.
Demography is the study of the way the population is composed and of changes in this
composition- Demographic forces effect the ways in which the major building blocks of the
society - institutions, interest groups and political parties are structured by:
- Age;
- Race:
- Class;
- Religion;
- Sex.
Next we ask ourselves what does this imply for the 21st century and how will political systems
have to respond.
Age.
General.
Two factors seem important in this respect:
- aging population in Western Europe;
- decline of the autochthon population in Western Europe.
Aging population.
Western European - and even Eastern European - countries are confronted to the so-called
Demographic Dip/ This involves lack of sufficient young members of the population to enter
the workforce and to perform the various economic tasks. The general economical answer to
that is the introduction of capital intensive as opposed to labour intensive technology.
Nevertheless there are fears that there are not going to be enough 16 years olds to meet the
demands of industry, trade and government.
At the same time the population is aging: an increasing proportion of the citizens expecting to
be able to stop working, live on a pension, receive health care and be supported by tax paid by

the younger sections of the population. One advantage might be: reduction in petty crime
caused by juveniles. But at the same time, geriatric crime wave may occur: crimes such as
shoplifting simply move from being juvenile to a crime of elderly because many aging people
will not be fully supported in terms of pensions and facilities.
If elderly are not satisfied in terms of goods, services and pensions, they might become a
political block.
On the other hand, elderly have a greater fear of crime than the younger ones. Those who can
afford, might going to hide behind security patrolled complexes of flats for seniors and
separate themselves from the young. Both forces produce the beginning of a society stratified
on age grounds rather than class.
The aging population provides the pull for immigration. So there was a pull in Enland in the
50s when shortages in health care and transport led to employ people from India and Caribbic
and Germany in the 60s and 70s pulled guest workers from Yugoslavia and Turkey.
There is also a push factor producing emigration from less developed countries. %0% or
more of the population is under 25. These countries are going to find there problems
becoming more acute over the next 20 years. The huge populations eg. in China, cannot be
absorbed into a manufacturing economy. Furthermore, traditional forms of population control
such as war are unavailable in the area of nuclear stalemate. The future will allegedly involve
service economy/ As a consequence many of these people are providing services also sexual
services as prostitutes, male and female and transvestite.
Decline of population.
In 2050, the population of the EU will decline from 729m to 628m while the worlds
population will grow from 6bn to 9 bn. The fall in population conceals a much lager fall in the
economically active population. This will produce pressures in the lower paid areas of the
economy.It is no longer simply the case that migrants wish to escape from poverty and obtain
a job in the industrialised countries. The industrialised countries are looking for migrants and
in certain areas of employment, preferably by the back door so that unscrupulous employers
can coerce them into a life of low wages.
Race.
Changes in population structure produce pressures for immigration and this in turn affects the
variable race. There is immigration into Western Europe from:
- Eastern Europe;
- Maghreb;
- India and Pakistan ( mainly into Great Brittan).
The big issue of the 21st Century is how successful will democratic countries be in creating
multicultural institutions. Often federalism is thought to be the solution. But federalism breaks
down where the populations are not geographically concentrated, but have migrated to urban
areas producing cities with ghettos of different nationalities and cultures within them. The
federal system is suitable for a primarily rural society. What is now required is the creation of
an urban counterpart of federalism. This will necessitate decentralisation of power from
national government to cities and decentralisation of cities to culturally autonomous regions
within those cities.
A second solution is sought in proportional representation. It has successfully operated as a
mechanism to create consensus where political cleavages are primarily ideological. No
democratic system has been particularly successful in overcoming ethnic cleavages, may be
with exception of Belgium and Switzerland.

Class.
Expected is a decline and possible disappearance of parts of the tradition skilled working class
in Europe and North America, despite their obvious in crease in China, India, Pakistan, South
Korea and Taiwan. That means that in the western countries de working class working in
factories is being replaced by white-collar working class who conceive themselves as middle
class or a cut above the traditional worker. Workers in education, health service and financial
services are likely to continue to exist and the deline in skilled manufacturing industry is
levelling off. It is unskilled labour that is finding it difficult to obtain jobs. The growth of this
underclassis linked with growth in crime: drug misuse and petty street crime. It is alsi
linked with anti police rioting. As tangible representatives of a remote authority, police can
at least be attacked to the immediate gratification of members of this underclass. But
equally the underclass born in a particular country enjoys fighting with the underclass that has
migrated from another country. Again, here, the possibilities of racial tension and public order
are high.
Religion.
Western societies that are traditionally conceive of themselves as characterised by a single
state approved religion are going to have to accommodate religions from elsewhere. In
Europe this will be primarily tIslam. This raises a couple of questions:
- Should other religions be protected by the law in the same way that the traditional
state religion was?
- If the populationis not itself primarily religious, should there be a right not to have a
religion?
- What rights do parents have in terms of their children being educated in the religion of
their belief or not being educated in any single religion but in several?
- What consequences will have phenomena like abortion and right to life?
Sex.
Countries that have introduced birth control policies in the last 20 years are countries
that are finding themselves with an excess of young males over young females. An excess
of adolescent males is however, a recipe for public disorder, homosexuality, spread of
ADS, and a recipe for emigration and clashes between young males in the societies to
which emigrants go to seek partners.
What does it imply for 21st Century?
1. Societies need to create structures by which the young are brought into political
participation. Anomie and drug taking are signs of powerlessness. If the young are
prevented to participate, they will create their own political parties and movements.
It is in those societies with a preponderance of elderly who will have to be more
insistent on bringing the young into participation. A society which is preponderantly
over 55 , will inevitably become a stagnant society. Equally, however, the retired will

2.

3.

4.

5.

have to be mobilised in some form of political participation. A primarily leisure

based group of retired people is a recipe for anomie: drug-taking as a response to their
feelings of powerlessness and non-participation.
2. On the racial area, the problem will be how to create institutions that give all races
and religions an input into the policy making process and arrive at a way of
achieving accepted compromises between these groups. The tradition democratic
methods may not be adequate here. New institutions and second, third and even fourth
chambers of the assembly may be necessary for these groups to voice their demands
and sort themselves out.
Democracies are likely to see a different area of political parties unless existing parties
can respond to age, ethnic, class and religious challenges. Political parties are likely to
become more and more like pressure groups with single issue causes like the Greens
coming and going and having impact at random electoral times.
The nation state is unlikely to survive the process. Supra-national entities are now
becoming more important than the nation state and the nation state itself is
increasingly faced with demands to pass power downwards to localities and local
government in general.
Public order occurs most frequently when the political system is overloaded by
demands from citenry and interest groups as well as its own institutions.. Demands
overload leads to interest groups resorting to violence to put their demands on the
agenda.This , in turn, leads to a vicious circle where the government only responds to
those demands that become emergencies because of the violence connected with them.
The police can actually end up harming the political system if they do not allow
demands to be aired, The political system may fail to recognise the existence of
demands, or to provide institutions at a lower level than that of nation al government,
that can respond to demands or create compromises before those demands reach
national government level
As a result, Europe becomes more and more a society of minorities.

POLICING IN A MULTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

Police officers are confronted with the following problems:
-

Some ethnic minorities dont know what the rules are: either the formal ones or the
informal ones. Under these circumstances there are bound to frequent
misunderstandings and these misunderstandings can escalate quickly into
confrontation and even riot. These confrontations often end with police accused of
racism and of behaving in a politicised, right wing manner.
Often police cannot act in a preventive role because they are seen as agents of
repression placing law enforcement ahead of keeping peace. This involves them in
cumulative conflict with an individual minority over a multiplicity of issues. In these
cases questions of legitimacy can be raised, not only of the police but also of the
political system as a whole.
A society with religious and ethnic minorities has more problems providing guarantees
for the rights of minorities and balancing the rights of majorities against the rights of
minorities

Societies are not quick to grant new rights. Most have only be won through struggle;
by people prepared to go to prison to martyr themselves, and by people prepared to
engage in civil disobedience and even acts of violence. Police is constantly faced with
grey areas- there may be public support for attacks on minorities, but it is sometimes
difficult to remember ther doctrines of minimum force and that it is only people
breaking the law who should be arrested rather than people of whom one might not
approve.

WHAT SORTS OF MINORITIES EXIST IN CONTEMPORARY SOCIETY?

Every society has minorities but they only become a law and order issue when they insist that
they have the right to be dramatically different from the majority culture.
There are various sots of minorities in a society:
- ethnic;
- cultural ( eg. Skinheads);
- religious;
- economic;
- ideological
Sometimes religious and ethnic minorities go together as also economic and ideological
( extreme left and right) Those extremist. Follow often an ideology of nationalism or
separatism. I a democratic society they are considered to be extremist when they dont accept
the basic norms of democracy: consensus, compromise, the rule of the law and accountability
to the population through regular free elections. These people feel that they have a monopoly
of the truth.
PROBLEMS IN THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN LAW AND ORDER AND
MINORITIES.
There are many cultural minorities:
- Young people who participate in so-called pop festivals. They create a new form of
entertainment that is not the entertainment of the parents. Sometimes those festivals
are related to drug use. The problem for the police is the choice between tolerance and
disorder. When they choose to act repressive, the consequence will be riot and a cut in
the contact with the youth.
- New Age Travellers who have chosen to live in vehicles and move to semi-settled site
to semi-settled site. The modern Gypsies! They are involved in continual
confrontations with the police over the roadworthiness of their vehicles, but also and
more fundamentally in terms of their lifestyle ( among others drug taking.
- Rastafarians claim that part of their religion involves the smoking of Marijuana as
saxrament. This brings them in conflict with police
- And so on.
There are also problems concerning minorities based on race. Racism is hostility that
arises simply because of the different appearance of members of the minorities..
In this area one can distinguish the following phenomena:
- Racist responses by elements within the majority population to:
either, existing ethnic minorities;
or, to immigrating ethnic minorities.
5

Racist responses cab involve a number of phenomena:

+ attacks on individuals;
+ fire bombing houses;
+ marches and demonstrations demanding the expulsion of the immigrant
community.
+ etc.
Problem for the police is keeping the balance between democratic freedoms of speech
and keeping the peace.
Political violence by ethnic minorities if they feel that their position is threatened:
conflicts over jobs;
threat to the wages of existing groups of the majority population:
conflicts about housing;
The law and order problem is frequently small scale, spontaneous outbursts of fighting
and disorder that occur in areas where the minority groups are living.
Conflicts within an ethnic minority.
The danger is assuming that all people from say India or Morocco have the
same background ( in Morocco: Arabs and Berbes).
Conflicts between ethnic majorities: between newly arrived minorities and the
old established ones. Such groups will create their own protection groups and
mutual aid associations. These may disappear below ground if persecution
occurs.
Immigrants from hot climates may be used to a street culture where a lot of
time is spent on street talking to each other, having impromptu parties and
generally hanging out. This can create apprehension on the part of the
patrolling police officers and can generally produce a situation in which rioting
is always waiting to start, Police officers must learn to distinguish between
exuberance and aggression.
Religious beliefs and practices. These are matters that the inhabitants of the new
country need to learn about the habits of the immigrants as well as vice versa.

All the phenomena raise the question of whether an immigrant culture is to be absorbed or is
to be allowed to retain its different nature. Related to this are:
- problems of what immigrants expect from the legal systen and the police;. The
potential for misunderstandings is great, and training is necessary for police officers in
order to handle these problems.
- The role os violence in the culture of the immigrants may be quite different from the
majority culture.
- The family structure is different. Many immigrants know an extended family. By
immigration it is disrupted. The new country has different views on family etc.
- Expectations and aspirations of incoming ethnic minorities. The first generation
generally has low expectations and may be happy with a low standard of living and
may measure its prosperity relative to the position in the original country. The second
generation goes through the educational system and is about to enter the work force.
Aspirations may have become much higher and ay be unsatisfiable in terms of the
educational qualifications achieved.
- Imprt of goods from the original country in which they are relatively cheep, illegally
or legally.

Most of the problems demand a response from the educational system. Police officers, the
home population and the immigrant population need to be educated as to each others culture
and expectations. The limits of tolerance have to be specified and appropriate political
institutions have to be created by which a multi-cultural society can ensure the resolution of
conflict at levels lower than that of the national parliament.
A central problem for a police force is successfully relating its policing strategies to a public
relations philosophy of trying to ensure that no one feels that any group is favoured. Justice
must be done but also seen to be done.
POLICIES TO OVERCOME SOME OF THESE PROBLEMS.
1. Representation of minorities in the police force.
a. This firstly raises questions about the selection requirements; e.g. need
policemen be minimally so and so tall?
b. Next culturally biased test must be replaced by non-biased ones.
c. Training must be improved. Cultural obstacles that inhibit particular
applicants from particular ethnic backgrounds within the actual training
process have to be dealt with. The trainers themselves have to be re-trained
to be more aware of this.
d. some outside organisations with special focus on integration of ethnic
minorities and anti-discrimination, should be involved in the development of
the educational system at all levels.
e. The police organisation itself must be made responsible for implementation
so that they feel some ownership for the programme.
2. Consultative groups and their composition.
There should be created consultative groups to advice the police and evaluate
their actions. The problem is that most of those groups tend to be middle class
and police friendly members of the society. Quite often member of the
population with whom tension is most acute dont join or are not required to
join. The composition and manner of selection is as important as the exisence
of these groups.
3. Representation on non-citizenship members of the community.
In western society, there are minorities who are not necessary citizens and
therefore not eligible to join the police or to participate in consultative groups.
Solutions must be found in these areas.
4. Exercise police powers.
If police do not police communities, then somebody else will. Eg. The Chinese
community is not reporting crime because many of its members are illegal
imm igrants and are afraid of going to the police because it might mean being
deported. The result is that protection rackets strive. People go to illegal
immigrants and ask for money not to reveal their existence to the police and to
look after their interests and protect their property. In Western Europe this
happens also with illegal Romanians , Bulgarians etc.
5. The question whether it is possible or fair to police different communities
differently. If so it means:
a. Discretion: in practise policing is done differently at different times and in
different circumstances. In this rspect the qualities of the police officer become
very important..
b. Foot patrol service with a responsibility for crime prevention and dealing with
petty crime. This service should be definitely owned by the community; it

c.

d.
e.

f.
g.

could be a private company, the community itself or a local police force. The
community here needs to be at a lower level than that of municipality ( eg. the
Gipsy community).
A police force with both a reactive and a public order capacity owned by a
municipality or by a province. This should be a uniformed one, which would
be reacting to telephone calls and would have to be in touch with these
community owned foot patrol service, which would deal with the follow up of
these sorts of calls.
There needs to be a criminal investigation force for serious crime ( crime
above a certain level of punishment, say rape, murder etc. It needs to be a
national force.
There needs to be a national, or a super-national force (where a number of
countries exist in close geographical proximity) to deal with problems related
to drug trafficking, terrorism, organised crime especially where this involves
fraud and money laundering.
There should be independent bodies that monitor and evaluate the police
forces, their activities and policies. Preferably an outside institution.
There should be units belonging to, run by, and financed by the United Nations
that are available to assist the less developed countries in special circumstances
suc as major emergencies, disasters and inter-communal strife.

Bill Tupman, University of Exeter:

MULTICULTURALISM, MINORITATI SI POLITIE.

INTRODUCERE.
Aceasta lucrare se va concentra in principal pe minoritatile etnice, aspectele culturale si
religioase si modul in care acestea se reflecta in legi si ordine. Vom analiza urmatoarele
subiecte:
- Fundalul demografic;
- Actul politienesc intr-o societate multiculturala;
- Ce fel de minoritati exista in societatea contemporana;

Problemele legate de minoritati si lege;

Activitati/politici de contracarare a acestor probleme.

FUNDALUL DEMOGRAFIC.
Generalitati.
Demografia este studiul despre compozitia populatiei si schimbarile acestei compozitii.
Fortele demografice actioneaza asupra modurilor in care sunt structurate blocurile majore ale
societatii institutii, grupuri de interese si partidele politice:
- Varsta
- Rasa
- Clasa
- Religie
- Sex.
Apoi, ne vom intreba ce implicatii au toate acestea pentru secolul 21 si cum trebuie sa
raspunda sistemele politice.
Varsta.
Generalitati.
Aici, par sa existe doi factori importanti:
- Populatia imbatrinita din Europa occidentala;
- Declinul populatiei autohtone din Europa occidentala.
Populatia imbatrinita.
In Europa occidentala, si chiar cea de Est, tarile se confrunta cu asa numita Scadere
demografica. Aceasta inseamna lipsa de de tineri care sa fie cuprinsi in forta de munca si care
sa efectueze diferitele activitati economice.
Raspunsul economic general la aceasta este introducerea capitalului intensiv spre deosebire de
tehnologia intensiva de munca. Cu toate acestea, se manifesta teama ca nu vor fi suficient de
multi tineri de 16 ani care sa indeplineasca cerintele industriei, comertului si guvernului.
Populatia imbatraneste: un procent din ce in ce mai mare se asteapta sa inceteze lucrul, sa
traiasca din pensie, sa primeasca ajutor de sanatate si sa fie sprijinit de platitorii de taxe
sectia mai tanara a populatiei. Un avantaj al acestei situatii ar putea fi: reducerea infractiunilor
minore cauzate in principal de tineri. In acelasi timp insa, poate apare valul infractiunilor
geriatrice: furtul din magazine care se muta pur si simplu din zona tineretului in cea a
batranilor, deoarece tot mai multi batrani vor ramane fara si facilitati.
Daca batranii nu sunt multumiti cu bunurile, serviciile si pensile primite, ei pot deveni un
blocaj politic.
Pe de alta parte, batranii se tem mult mai mult de criminalitate decat tinerii. Cei care isi pot
permite, pot sa se ascunda in complexe de locuinte bine pazite si separate de cele locuite de
tineri.
Ambele forte duc la crearea unei societati stratificate pe criteriul varstei, mai degraba decat
pe clase.
Populatia imbatranita atrage imigratia. Asa s-a intamplat in Anglia anilor 50 atunci cand
lipsa de lucratori in sistemul social si transport a atras angajarea de persoane din India si
Caraibe, si in Germania anilor 60 si 70 care a atras angajarea personalului din Iugoslavia si
Turcia.

Exista de asemenea un factor de impingere a emigratiei dinspre tarile mai putin dezvoltate
unde 50% sau chiar mai mult, este sub 25 de ani. Aceste tari vor avea problemele lor, mai
acute in urmatorii 20 de ani. Populatiile uriase, ca cele din China, de exemplu, nu vor putea fi
absorbite de economia manufacturiera. Mai mult chiar, formele traditionale de control al
populatiei, cum ar fi razboiul, nu sunt disponibile in impasul atomic in care ne aflam. Viitorul
presupune implicarea economiei serviciilor, inclusiv a serviciilor sexuale, cum ar fi prostitutia
si transvestitii.
Scaderea populatiei.
In 2050, populatia din Uniunea Europeana va scadea de la 729 milioane la 628 milioane, in
timp ce populatia globului va creste de la 6 miliarde la 9 miliarde. Scaderea populatiei
ascunde o inca mai mare scadere a populatiei active economic. Aceasta va duce la presiuni in
straturile economiei mai prost platite. Nu este vorba doar despre emigranti care cauta sa scape
de saracie. Tarile industrializate cauta imigranti, iar in anumite sectoare patronii vor angaja
prin usa din spate silindu-i sa accepte salarii de mizerie.
Rasa.
Schimbarile din structura populatiei creaza presiune asupra imigratiei si aceasta, la randul sau
afecteaza rasa respectiva. In Europa occidentala exista imigranti din:
- Europa de Est
- Magreb
- India si Pakistan (mai ales in Marea Britanie)
Marea problema a secolului 21 va consta in cat succes pot inregistra tarile democratice in
crearea institutiilor multiculturale. Adesea se crede ca federalizarea ar fi solutia. Dar
federalizarea rupe concentrarile geografice ale unei anume rase, creind ghetouri in tarile unde
au migrat, in regiunile urbane din acestea, ghetouri care cuprind diferite nationalitati si culturi.
Sistemul federal se potriveste societatilor prioritar rurale. Acum insa este nevoie de crearea
unei variante urbane a federalismului. Acest lucru va necesita descentralizarea puterii dinspre
guvernul national catre orase si descentralizarea oraselor catre regiuni autonome din punct de
vedere cultural.
Se cauta o solutie de reprezentare proportionala. Aceasta s-a realizat in crearea unui consens
acolo unde deosebirile politice sunt in principal ideologice. Dar niciun sistem democratic nu a
avut succes in depasirea diferentelor entice, poate cu exceptia Belgiei si Elvetiei.
Clasa.
Se asteapta un declin si o posibila disparitie a unor parti din clasa muncitoare calificata din
Europa si America de Nord si o crestere evidenta a acesteia in China, Pakistan, Korea de Sud
si Taiwan. Aceasta inseamna ca in tarile occidentale, muncitorii care lucreaza in fabrici vor fi
inlocuiti de functionari care se considera clasa de mijloc sau superiori clasei muncitoare
traditionala. Lucratorii din invatamant, servicii sociale si finante vor continua sa existe, iar
industria manufacturiera va slabi sau se va egala cu serviciile. Cei necalificati vor gasi din ce
in ce mai greu de lucru. Aceasta crestere a subclasei va duce la cresterea infractionalitatii
cea legata de droguri si de infractiuni stradale. Miscarile de strada anti-politie se vor amplifica
de asemenea, deoarece cei nemultumiti se vor razbuna pe autoritati atacand reprezentantii cei
mai vizibili ai acestora politia. De asemenea, ciocnirile reprezentantilor subclasei dintr-o
anume tara impotriva celor imigranti se vor inteti. Din nou, apare posibilitatea tensiunilor
rasiale si stradale.

10

Religia.
Societatile occidentale care se cred caracterizate printr-o singura religie aprobata de stat vor
trebui sa se adapteze la a ingadui religii venite din alte parti. In Europa, principala religie cu
care occidentalii vor trebui sa se impace este islamismul. Aceasta situatie ridica anumite
intrebari:
- Oare ar trebui ca aceste religii venite de aiurea sa fie protejate in acelasi fel ca si
religia traditionala tarii respective?
- Daca sa se accepte populatii care sunt atee sau nu apartin niciunei religii?
- Ce drepturi au parintii in sensul educatiei copiilor lor in spiritul credintei sau unui
crez, sau de a nu fi educati in spiritul vreunei religii sau in spiritul a mai multor religii?
- Ce consecinte vor avea fenomene ca avortul sau dreptul la viata?
Sex.
Tarile care au introdus politicile de control al nasterilor in ultimii 20 de ani sunt tari care in
momentul de fata au exces de barbati tineri in detrimental femeilor tinere. Excesul de
adolescenti barbati este reteta pentru dezordine publica, homosexualitate, raspandirea SIDA,
precum si cauza a emigratiei si luptelor intre tinerii din societatile in care tinerii au emigrat
pentru a-si gasi parteneri.
Care sunt implicatiile pt secolul 21?
1. Societatile trebuie sa-si creeze structuri prin care tinerii sa fie atrasi catre participare
politica. Anomaliile si consumul de droguri sunt semne de slabiciune. Daca tinerii sunt
impiedicati sa participe la politica, isi vor crea propriile partide si miscari politice.
2. In societatile in care populatia preponderenta este batrana, trebuie atrasi tinerii. O
societate in care varsta preponderenta este 55 va stagna cu siguranta. De asemenea,
pensionarii trebuie si ei atrasi spre participare politica. Daca nu sunt implicati, acestia
se pot deda la anomalii sau droguri.
3. In ceea ce priveste rasismul, problema va fi crearea unor institutii care sa dea impuls
participarii la politica tuturor raselor si religiilor si gasirea unor posibilitati de
acceptare a compromisurilor dintre grupuri. Metodele democratice traditionale s-ar
putea sa nu mai mearga. Ar putea fi necesare noi institutii si adunari/parlamente cu
doua, trei sau chiar patru camere pentru ca aceste grupuri sa-si poata exprima cererile
si sa faca alegerile.

4. Democratiile s-ar putea sa caute noi zone politice acolo unde partidele traditionale nu
pot raspunde noilor cerinte/probleme de varsta/etnie/clasa/religie. Partidele politice
vor tinde din ce in ce mai mult sa devina grupuri de presiune cu o singura tinta ca cel
al Verzilor, care apar si dispar la fiecare organizare de Alegeri.
5. Se pare ca Statul national nu va supravietui procesului. Entitatile supra nationale devin
acum mai importante decat statul national, statul national insusi trebuind sa faca fata
unor cereri si presiuni crescande de a ceda puterea administratiilor locale si
guvernamentale mai mici.
6. ordinea publica este dezechilibrata atunci cand sistemul politic este supraincarcat cu
cerinte de la cetateni si grupuri interesate, precum si de institutii. Cerintele grupurilor
de interese duc la violenta pentru a forta organismele din conducere/partidele politice

11

sa treaca aceste cerinte pe agenda/platforma lor. Acest lucru creaza un cerc vicios, in
care guvernul raspund numai acestor presiuni ce devin urgente datorita aspectului lor
violent. Politia poate ajuta guvernul in sensul inabusirii acestor izbucniri violente
pentru ca ele sa nu m,ai ajunga sa forteze guvernul sa actioneze numai in directia
presiunilor respective. Sistemul politic s-ar putea sa nu recunoasca existenta acestor
cerinte sau sa ceara institutiilor de la nivel inferior sa resolve cerintele grupurilor de
presiune, pentru a crea un compromis inainte ca acestea sa ajunga la nivelul
guvernului.
7. in acest fel, Europa devine din ce in ce mai mult o societate a minoritatilor.
POLITIA IN SOCIETATEA MULTICULTURALACING IN A
Politistii se confrunta cu urmatoarele probleme:
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unele minoritati entice nu cunosc regulile, fie ele oficiale sau neoficiale. In aceste
circumstante apar neintelegeri frecvente, iar aceste neintelegeri pot escalada repede si
ajunge chiar la lupte de strada. Aceste confruntari duc adesea la acuzatii de rasism si
sunt politizate si tratate in maniera de dreapta.
Adesea politia nu poate actiona preventiv pentru ca ei sunt priviti ca agenti ai
represiunii, care pun mai presus de mentinerea linistii, aplicarea legii. Aceasta duce la
un conflict cumulative cu o anume minoritate, pe o multitudine de probleme. In aceste
cazuri se poate pune problema legitimitatii, nu numai a politiei ci a intregului system
politic in intregul sau.
O societate cu minoritati religioase si entice are mai multe probleme cu privire la
garantarea drepturilor minoritatilor si echilibrarea drepturilor lor cu cele ale populatiei
majoritare.
Societatile nu se grabesc sa garantze noi drepturi. Majoritatea dintre ele trebuie
castigate numai prin lupta, de catre oameni care sunt gata sa se martirizeze, sa mearga
la inchisoare si de catre oameni pregatiti sa se angajeze in incalcarea drepturilor civile
si chiar acte de violenta. Politia are intotdeauna de a face cu portiunea cenusie poate
ca publicul strijina atacarea minoritatilor, dar adesea, este greu sa-si aminteasca
dispozitia de a folosi minimum de forta si ca trebuie arestati doar cei care incalca legea
si nu cei care o dezaproba.

CE FEL DE MINORITATI EXISTA IN SOCIETATEA CONTEMPORANA?

Orice societate are minoritatile sale, dar acestea devin o problema de lege si ordine numai
atunci cand ele insista pe un anume drept care este foarte diferit de cele ale majoritatii.
Exista diferite feluri de minoritati intr-o societate:
- Entice
- Culturale (ex Skinheads (capetele rase))
- Religioase
- Economice
- Ideologice
Cateodata minoritatile religioase si entice merg impreuna, ca si cele economice si ideologice
(de extrema dreapta sau stanga). Cele extremiste urmeaza adesea ideologii de separatism sau
nationalism. Intr-o societate democratica, minoritatile sunt considerate extremiste atunci cand
ele nu accepta normele de baza ale democratiei: consensul, compromisul, domnia legii si

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responsabilitatea populatiei in cadrul alegerilor libere. Acesti oameni simt ca ei detin

monopolul adevarului.
PROBLEME IN LEGATURA CU LEGATURA DINTRE FACTORII LEGII SI
ORDINII (POLITIA/JANDARMERIA) SI MINORITATI
Exista multe minoritati culturale:
- Tineri care participa la asa-numitele festivaluri pop. Ei creaza o noua forma de
distractie, care nu eamana cu felul in care se distreaza parintii lor. Cateodata aceste se
leaga de consumul de droguri. Problema politiei este alegerea intre toleranta si
dezordine. Atunci cand aleg sa intervina represiv, consecinta este o rascoala a tinerilor
si o intrerupere a contactului cu tinerii.
- Calatorii Noului Veac (New Age Travellers), care au ales sa traiasca in automobile si
se muta dintr-o locatie semi stabila in alta. Tiganii moderni1 ei sunt implicatiin
confruntari continue cu politia datorita conditiei proaste a vehicolelor lor, dar si
datorita modului lor de viata (printer altele consumul de droguri).
- Rastafarienii afirma ca religia lor implica fumatul de marihuana si sexul. Acestia au de
asemenea conflicte cu politia.
- Si asa mai departe.
Exista, de asemenea, probleme cu minoritatile datorita rasei. Rasismul inseamna ostilitatea
care apare pur si simplu datorita infatisarii deosebite ale membrilor unei rase.
In aceasta zona putem distinge urmatoarele fenomene:
- Raspunsuri rasiste provenite de la elemente din cadrul populatiei majoritare fata de:
Fie, minoritatile etnice existente;
Fie, fata de minoritatile imigrante.
Raspunsurile rasiste pot implica anumite fenomene:
+ atacuri asupra indivizilor;
+ aruncarea bombelor asupra caselor;
+ marsuri si demonstratii care cer expulzarea comunitatii imigrante.
+ etc.
Problema politiei este de a mentine echilibrul intre libertatile democratice de
exprimare si mentinerea linistii publice.
-

Violenta politica a unor minoritati entice daca acestea simt ca le este amenintata
pozitia:
Conflicte privind slujbele;
Amenintarea salariilor grupurilor existente de catre populatia majoritara:
Conflicte privind locuintele;
Problema legii si ordinii este de obicei la nivel scazut, izbucniri spontane de lupte si
dezordini in zonele locuite de minoritati entice.
Conflicte in cadrul minoritatii etnice.
Pericolul consta in a crede ca tori oamenii proveniti, sa zicem din India sau
Maroc au acelasi background (in Maroc arabii si berberii).
Conflicte intre majoritatile entice intre nou-venitii minoritari si minoritatile
stabilite acolo mai de mult. Asemenea grupuri vor crea propriile asociatii de

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protectie si de ajutor reciproc. Daca apare persecutia, acestea devin

ilegale/nevazute.
Imigrantii din tarile cu climat cald pot fi obisnuiti cu o cultura de strada, unde
o mare parte a timpului se petrece pe strada, discutand unii cu ceilalti,
organizand petreceri spontane si in general statul, lancezitul pe strada. Acest
lucru poate crea impresia, pt agentul de politie care patruleaza, ca acolo e pe
cale sa inceapa o manifestatie. Politistii trebuie sa invete sa distinga intre
exuberanta si atitudine agresiva.
Credinte si practici religioase. Acestea sunt lucruri pe care locuitorii unei tari dar si
imigrantii nou-veniti trebuie sa le invete de la unii la altii.

Toate fenomenele ridica intrebarea daca o cultura imigranta trebuie absorbita sau trebuie sa fie
lasata sa-si manifeste trasaturile diferite. Legate de aceasta chestiune sunt:
- La ce probleme se asteapta imigrantii de la reprezentantii legii si ordinii. Potentialul de
neintelegere este mare, si este nevoie ca politia sa fie instruita pt a putea controla
aceste probleme.
- Rolul pe care il are violenta, poate diferi de la o cultura la alta, si deci intre cultura
majoritatii si cele ale imigrantilor.
- Structurarea familiei poate de asemenea fi diferita. Multi imigranti au familii mari.
Prin imigrarea unora, familia este despartita. Noua tara priveste familia in alt fel. Etc.
- Asteptarile si aspiratiile minoritatii entice imigrante . Prima generatie are in general
sperante si aspiratii scazute si se pot multumi cu un standard de viata scazut,
masurandu-l cu cel pe care il aveau in tara de origine. A doua generatie insa trecand
prin sistemul de educatie si pe cale sa devina forta de munca, au aspiratii mai ridicate,
care pot fi disproportionate fata de pregatirea educationala obtinuta.
- Importul legal sau illegal, de bunuri din tara de origine, care sunt relativ ieftine.
Majoritatea problemelor cer un raspuns din partea sistemului de invatamant. Politistii,
populatia tarii respective si populatia imigranta trebuie educate in spiritul culturii si
asteptarilor tuturor partilor. Limitele tolerantei trebuie sa fie specificate si trebuie create
institutiile politice potrivite prin care o societate multiculturala sa poata asigura rezolvarea
conflictului, la un nivel mai mic decat cel parlamentar.
O problema importanta pentru politie este aceea de a-si adapta cu success strategiile activitatii
sale politienesti la o filozofie publica care sa incerce sa nu faca pe nimeni sa se simta diferit
sau apartinand unui anume grup faforizat. Trebuie facuta dreptate dar trebuie sa se aiba grija
pt a se face dreptate.
POLITICI DE DEPASIRE A CATORVA DINTRE ACESTE PROBLEME.
8. Representanti ai minoritatilor in cadrul politiei.
a. Acest deziderat ridica in primul rand problema cerintelor de selectionare,
cum ar fi de ex. Cat trebuie sa fie politistii de inalti?
b. Apoi testele cu tenta de prejudecata trebuie inlocuite cu teste neutre.
c. Trebuie imbunatatita educatia. Obstacolele culturale care ii inhiba pe anume
candidati dintr-o anume comunitate etnica. In acest sens instructorii trebuie
mai intai ei sa fie instruiti in aceasta directie pt a deveni mai constienti de
aceste probleme.
d. Unele organizatii din afara care se ocupa integrarea minoritatilor si de anti
discriminare tebuie implicate in dezvoltarea sistemului educational la toate
nivelurile.

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e. Institutia politieneasca trebuie responsabilizata pentru aplicarea acestei

educatii/instruiri pentru ca politistii sa simta ca sunt patronii programului.
9. Grupuri consultative si componenta lor.
Trebuie create grupuri consultative care sa-i consilieze/sfatuiasca pe politisti si
sa evalueze activitatile lor. Problema este ca majoritatea acestor grupuri tind sa
provina din clasa de mijloc sau medii prietenoase/apropiate fata de politisti.
Adesea, in aceste grupuri nu sunt chemati si personae ostile politiei.
Compozitia acestor grupuri este la fel de importanta ca insasi existenta lor.
10. Reprezentanti ai comunitatii care sunt de cetatenia tarii respective.
In societatea occidentala, exista si minoritati care nu au necesarmente cetatenia
tarii in care traiesc, si deci nu pot deveni politisti sau membri in grupuri
consultative.
Si pentru aceste situatii trebuie gasite solutii.
11. Exercitarea puterii politienesti.
Daca politia nu isi desfasoara activitatea in comunitati, atunci altcineva va
suplini acest vid de putere. De exemplu comunitatea chineza nu raporteaza
crimele pentru ca multi dintre membrii sai sunt imigranti ilegali si se tem ca
daca se vor duce la politie ar putea fi deportati. Rezultatul este protectia
rachetilor. Acestia merg la imigrantii ilegali si le cer taxa de protectie pentru ca
sa nu-i spuna la politie si pentru a avea grija de ei si de proprietatile lor. In
tarile occidentale, aceasta se intampla cu imigrantii ilegali romani, bulgari etc.
12. Chestiunea daca este posibil sau cinstit ca politia sa-si desfasoare actul
politienesc diferit in comunitati diferite inseamna de asemenea:
a. Discretie: in practica, actul politienesc este realizat in mod diferit la momente
diferite si imprejurari diferite. In acest sens calitatile potistului sunt cele care
sunt importante.
b. Politistul care patruleaza cu piciorul si care raspunde de prevenirea
infractionalitatii si contraventiilor. Acest serviciu trebuie neaparat sa fie
proprietatea comunitatii. Acesta poate fi realizat de o companie privata, de
comunitatea insasi sau de politie. Comunitatea de aici trebuie sa fie inferioara
celei municipale (comunitatea tiganeasca, de exemplu).
c. O unitate de politie cu competitie atat represiva cat si de ordine publica care sa
apartina comunitatii sau unei provincii. Acesti politisti trebuie sa poarte
uniforma sa reactioneze la apelurile telefonice si sa fie in permanenta legatura
cu patrula stradala, care poata rezolva problemele vizate de telefon.
d. Trebuie sa existe o unitate/servici de investigatie penala (infractiuni mai grave,
de exemplu viol, omor etc). trebuie sa fie o unitate/service national(a)
e. Este nevoie de o unitate/servici politienesc national sau super-national (unde
un numar de tari sunt geographic foarte apropiate), care sa se ocupe de
infractionaalitatea grava ca traficul de droguri, terrorism, crima organizata, in
special unde se implica frauda sau spalare de bani.
f. Trebuie sa existe organisme independente care sa monitorizeze si sa evalueze
unitatile de politie, activitatile lor si politica lor. De preferat o institutie din
afara.
g. Trebuie sa existe unitati care sa apartina, si sa fie conduse de Natiunile Unite,
care sa sprijine tarile mai putin dezvoltate in special in cazuri speciale, cum ar
fi urgente majore, dezastre si rivalitati inter-comunale.

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