The “new management of security” put to the test: crime and police activity under Minister Sarkozy (2002-2007)
Following the legislative and presidential elections of 2002, Nicolas Sarkozy was named Minister of the Interior and, during the five year term of Jacques Chirac (2002-2007), occupied this position for more than three and a half years. During this period, he wanted to introduce a « new management » as well as imposing upon the gendarmerie (military institution in charge of public safety with police duties among the civilian population [translator’s note]) and the police, a « culture of results ». According to him, it was this type of management and culture that five years later allowed him to declare a strong drop in crime as well as a clear improvement in the mobilization and performance of law enforcement. These two claims and the causality between them will here be subjected to scrutiny.Thus, the analysis will review the nature of this « new management » and outline a different assessment.
Le terrorisme international et la cage d'escalier. La sécurité publique dans le débat politique en France, 2000–2003
Abstract In the spring of 2001, statistics concerning criminality in France, - on the decline over the preceding five years, - showed an increase. The principal measure recommended by a Conference on Interior Security held in January 2001 was the adoption of legislative changes to combat the offences responsible for this increase in criminal activity, which the opposition was using to advantage in anticipation of the coming elections (legislative and presidential elections were slated for the spring of 2002). Thus in March 2001 the French Parliament approved first reading of a new “interior security law.” By the time of second reading in October 2001 the issue had become highly emotionally charged because of the events of September 11 in the United States, which resulted in the bill being “fortified” with a chapter “with a view to strengthening the war against terrorism.” Thus a link was made in the framework of a legislative text between daily security issues and international terrorism, - petty crime irritants to public order and epic conflicts affecting the entire planet. This link persisted, notably in polemics on security issues launched during the election campaigns, and subsequently in the measures instituted by the new government in May 2002. This paper exposes and criticizes this conflation. Résumé Au printemps 2001, la statistique de la délinquance en France, en baisse ou égale depuis cinq ans, repart à la hausse. Au premier rang des mesures affichées par un Conseil de Sécurité Intérieur tenu en janvier 2001, figure l'adoption de modifications législatives visant à accroître les moyens de lutte contre les crimes et délits responsables de cette nouvelle croissance, dont l'opposition tire argument dans la perspective des échéances électorales prochaines (élections présidentielles et législatives au printemps 2002). C'est ainsi qu'en mars 2001, le parlement français vote en première lecture une nouvelle «loi relative à la sécurité intérieure». Lorsque le projet arrive en seconde lecture en octobre, l'émotion suscitée par les événements du 11 septembre aux Etats-Unis est vive, et le projet est «enrichi» d'un chapitre «visant à améliorer la lutte contre le terrorisme». Le lien est ainsi posé dans un texte législatif entre sécurité quotidienne et terrorisme international, entre petite délinquance troublant l'ordre public local et grands conflits planétaires. Ce lien va perdurer, notamment dans les polémiques sur la sécurité qui se déploient durant les campagnes electorates, et par la suite dans les dispositions prises par le nouveau gouvernement depuis mai 2002. On illustre et interroge cette association.
Protection of the Marine Environment: The International and National Regulation of Deep Seabed Mining Activities
This chapter provides an overview of the international and national regulatory framework pertaining to deep seabed mining activities. It begins by discussing the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, the backdrop for all marine activities – be they national or international – and examines the obligations of states to protect the marine environment from the harmful effects arising from deep seabed mining. Next, the chapter examines the international regime for deep seabed mining (i.e. “activities in the Area”), explaining the “common heritage of mankind” status of the Area (i.e. the international seabed); the functions of the International Seabed Authority (ISA), the international organization established to govern deep seabed mining in the Area; and the concept of state sponsorship of non-state entities (i.e. private actors) for deep seabed mining in the Area. The chapter follows with a discussion of the development of national legislation to regulate deep seabed mining, examining efforts in the Pacific region where many prospective deep-sea mining sites are located. This includes a look at the legislative regimes of several Pacific Island nations, namely, Papua New Guinea, Tonga and the Cook Islands, for whom deep seabed mining may soon become a reality – as well as New Zealand and Japan, countries with comparatively developed rule of law and legislative regimes that have undertaken or considered deep seabed mining in their national waters. Overall, the chapter critically describes and evaluates the current regulatory status in the international and national seabed areas and highlights some salient gaps that require urgent attention in order to ensure marine environmental protection and mitigate impacts on humans.