A variety of complex political, social and cultural problems have led to nearly three weeks of nightly rioting in Paris and elsewhere in France, according to a panel of professors and students at Kansas University.

“To attempt to reduce it to just one factor is unrealistic,” said Van Kelly, associate professor and chairman of the KU Department of French and Italian.

France needs to change and address issues of unemployment, discrimination against second- and third-generation immigrants, and improve education, panelists said.

Unemployment in some French neighborhoods is as high as 30 percent to 40 percent, said Bernard Cornet, distinguished professor of economics, adding that complicating the issue is a lack of education and quality training.

The rioting in France that began Oct. 27 was sparked by the accidental deaths of two teenagers in an electrical substation in Paris. They were being chased by police. The rioting then spread to poor, immigrant neighborhoods in other cities.

Unemployment leaves large numbers of people with time on their hands to mobilize for a riot, said Ronald Francisco, professor of political science. He also noted that French police are confrontational with troublemakers in riot conditions.

The French government doesn’t respect immigrant family cultures and that needs to change, said Badou Bousso, a doctoral student in French from Senegal.

“These people think they don’t belong in French society because they are not recognized,” Bousso said.

Others taking part in the panel discussion were graduate students Rokhaya Ndiaye, of Besancon, France; and Anne Dotter, Offendorf, France.

At least 50 people attended the discussion in the Kansas Union’s Alderson Auditorium. It was organized by the European Studies program and the Department of French and Italian.