France Riots: Youth Unemployment Over 20% Drives Destructive Protests, Expert Says

France is experiencing its worst riots in recent years, with youth unemployment exceeding 20 percent, as experts point to unstable young people venting destructive impulses rather than making political statements. Sociologist Yasuyuki Yamashita of Kobe University explains that the masked "Black Bloc" group, mostly young people, joins demonstrations to commit destruction and looting. He notes that even university graduates commonly fail to find work, leaving youth with uncertain futures and few outlets for their frustrations. The riots began with high school students blocking schools to protest government budget cuts, with public workers and citizens also opposing rising fuel costs and inflation. While Japan faces similar issues like teacher shortages and inequality, French society has a tradition of protests leading to government concessions, unlike Japan.