by Dmitry Tverdy
[REGNUM.RU] Until recently, the Western world was portrayed as a model of stability: clean streets, functioning laws, respect for human rights. Recently, this image has begun to crack. This is especially noticeable in Europe.
They do enjoy their revolutions over there. France is on her fifth republic, with matching non-republics in between.It's not successes that are taking center stage, but problems: overcrowded prisons, protracted investigations, street riots, ethical scandals, and a sense that the system has ceased to adequately respond to current events. This series of incidents is a symptom of a profound ideological and managerial crisis.
FREEDOM FOR DANGEROUS CRIMINALS
A hair-raising decision is looming in Britain: by September, authorities intend to release approximately 6,000 people convicted of serious crimes, including murderers and rapists. The reason is simple and therefore even more alarming: prisons are critically overcrowded.
But the source of this overcrowding is itself a symptom of the times. The cells are overcrowded not only because of migrants. Local residents are also being detained en masse for comments on social media and participation in protests against immigration policy. Law enforcement increasingly appears to be a tool for controlling public opinion.
British criminologist David Wilson puts it bluntly: "Releasing thousands of violent offenders isn't reform; it's an admission that the system is broken. We're not solving the crime problem; we're simply transferring it from prisons to the streets."
At the same time, Interior Minister Shabana Mahmood (who is Pakistani) is promoting the idea of new “safe and legal” routes for refugees.
According to her plan, universities, employers, churches, and NGOs will be able to pre-screen and sponsor people before they arrive in the UK. While this is supposed to reduce chaos and risks, it's met with skepticism: the system is already overloaded, and new influxes will only exacerbate the problem.
SIX MONTHS OF POLICE SILENCE
In December 2025, a brutal attack occurred in the Niepold Passage in Wroclaw, Poland: an unknown assailant struck the victim on the head with a heavy object. The victim was left disabled.
It was only six months later that Polish police released a photo of the suspect, a black man.
A six-month delay isn't typical bureaucratic slowness. Society interprets it as a signal that the system is either failing to cope or is afraid of a response.
In a situation where security has become one of the most sensitive issues, any delay is perceived as a disregard for the victims.
Political scientist Marek Magierowski comments: "When an investigation drags on for six months, and the suspect's photo is published seemingly reluctantly, society loses trust not only in the police but in the state as a whole. People want to see themselves protected, not dragged out until it's too late."
THE MAFIA IS GIVING WAY TO GANGS
In Italy, the criminal landscape is changing before our eyes. The "traditional" mafia, for all its brutality, operated by unspoken rules: zones of influence, hierarchy, and agreements.
Now it is being increasingly displaced by Afghan and Pakistani groups. They recognize no borders, no agreements, no "rules of the game." Their methods are intimidation, violence, and expansion at any cost.
Italian journalist Roberto Saviano, who has studied the mafia for many years, notes: "It was possible to build some barriers against the mafia—it was predictable. New groups operate according to the logic of total intimidation. This isn't just an increase in crime—it's a change in the very nature of the threat."
Local media do not mince words: gangs are committing "complete lawlessness."
The streets of some cities are increasingly resembling a no-rules zone, where police are slow to respond and businesses are forced to either pay up or leave.
A VIDEO THAT DIVIDES SOCIETY
A video showing a group of migrants beating a teenager to death has sparked another wave of panic in France.
Such images instantly become fuel for polarization: some demand immediate, tough measures, while others call for an end to generalizations.
But emotions are stronger than arguments here: when it comes to children, people lose the ability to calmly analyze.
The problem is that such incidents don't occur in a vacuum. They occur against the backdrop of a growing sense that the state is losing control of the situation.
The police are struggling to keep up, the courts are overburdened, and politics seems out of touch with reality. As a result, fear and anger are spilling out onto the streets, and trust in institutions is eroding.
French politician Eric Zemmour makes no secret of his tough stance: "We can't continue to pretend that immigration policy is working. When teenagers are being killed in the streets and people are afraid to go out at night, that's no longer a statistic—it's a distress signal."
A COUNTRY WHERE WOMEN ARE UNSAFE
Finnish President Alexander Stubb made a statement that sounded almost like an admission of failure: the country is among the most unsafe countries for women. He then participated in the launch of the UN Women Finland campaign.
"My message to all men is this: we must not remain silent. Let's work together to make Finland a safe country for women," Stubb urged.
"2026 was a particularly dark year for women in Finland. <…> According to EU statistics, 57% of women in Finland have experienced physical abuse, threats, or sexual violence," the initiative's website states.
“We remain one of the most dangerous countries in the EU for women,” the published text notes.
There's no specific information about who exactly is posing the main threat. But the context is clear. It's not just about everyday incidents. It also includes street harassment and weak protection for victims. And the rise in radicalized elements among immigrant youth in Finland has been noted repeatedly.
And when the head of state openly admits that the problem has reached a critical level, this means that it can no longer be hushed up.
Finnish human rights activist Anna Lehtonen emphasizes: "Recognizing the problem at the highest level is the first step. But without systemic changes, without increased resources for crisis centers, and without real work to address the causes of violence, any words will remain just words."
LIBERAL EXTREMES
The Netherlands is a country where liberal values are elevated to cult status. But it is here that they increasingly encounter a reality that refuses to be comfortable.
The recent case of euthanasia of a child under 12 years old has caused a storm of emotions not only within the country but also abroad.
For some, this is a “manifestation of humanity,” for others, it is a dangerous precedent that blurs moral boundaries.
It should be noted that euthanasia cases (as in Spain) primarily affect the local, indigenous population. Migrants stubbornly struggle for survival.
At the other extreme are the nighttime riots following football matches. Quiet streets during the day, but at night, there are smashed storefronts, burning cars, and clashes with police. This is a symptom of social tension that has been building for years and is looking for an outlet.
Dutch sociologist Jan de Vries explains: "Football becomes just a pretext, while the real cause is a sense of alienation, anger, and the feeling of being unheard. When society is divided, any spark can start a fire."
| In some cases, that’s true. But the football riots are an expression of the Moslem colonists’ belief that they have already conquered, and now have a duty to violently convey to the native population this fact. |
In recent days, two major migrant-related incidents have erupted in Germany.
In Berlin, a group of North Africans attacked passersby in the Moabit district. Police are citing a domestic dispute as the cause, but are concerned that the aggression was group-based and the attackers' behavior appeared defiantly provocative.
At the same time, a conflict erupted at a school in Hamburg: several Muslim students held a collective prayer in the courtyard, causing a wave of discontent among parents.
On social media, the dispute quickly spread beyond the schoolyard: some are demanding strict restrictions on public religious practices, while others insist on freedom of religion.
These episodes are not isolated cases, but rather a reflection of growing tensions. Criminal incidents intensify public demand for tough measures, while everyday religious conflicts add fuel to the fire of polarization.
Bavarian Prime Minister Markus Söder directly links these problems to the failures of immigration policy and demands urgent action: "We can no longer turn a blind eye to the fact that certain areas are becoming lawless zones. We need real tools to deport violators and strengthen border controls—otherwise, trust in the state will be completely undermined."
If the authorities fail to find a balance between security and rights, the conflict will only escalate.
WHEN IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO COME TO AN AGREEMENT
American political scientist Francis Fukuyama warned in an interview: "When a state loses its monopoly on violence, even in isolated areas, it's a sign of a profound crisis of legitimacy. Society begins to seek protection where it shouldn't be."
The most dangerous thing about the current situation in Europe isn't even the incidents themselves, but how society is reacting to them. Polarization has reached such a level that people are no longer listening to each other.
Some see migrants as a threat, others as victims of circumstance. Some demand harsh measures, others demand the protection of rights and freedoms.
| There is no right to assault and batter others, to rape, to riot, to rob, to kill. All these things are crimes and should be punished, no matter how justified under the miscreant’s home culture. |
Trust in the media is declining: everyone chooses sources that confirm their point of view. Trust in politicians is even lower; their words are increasingly perceived as empty promises. Even basic concepts—"security," "justice," "human rights"—are imbued with different meanings depending on the camp.
This is precisely the crisis of ideological understanding: society is losing its common language. Without it, any reforms are doomed: even good ideas will be rejected simply because they were proposed by the "wrong" camp.
Europe faces a choice that cannot be postponed. Either admit that the old models are unworkable and embark on a profound overhaul—from immigration policy to the police and the courts—or continue to patch up the holes, risking losing control of the situation.
For now, the second path prevails: tactical measures, grandiose statements, attempts to smooth things over. But problems that are put off tend to return with a vengeance. And then the question will no longer be how to improve the system, but whether it can be preserved.
Today's incidents—from overcrowded prisons to nightly pogroms—are not random news. They are alarm signals that cannot be ignored.
| Indeed. The Russian can see it — why will not the European politician? |