Lecture 3 : RIOTS, PROTEST AND MASS DISORDER IN THE CITY Flashcards
(38 cards)
What is the legal definition Section 1 of the Public Order Act 1986 for riots?
12 or more people together threaten or use unlawful violence for a common purpose in such a way that the conduct of them all together is such as would cause a person of reasonable firmness at the scene to fear for their personal safety’
Mnemonic: 12 Violent People Create Fear
How is the term “riot” often used in a way that is not neutral?
not neutral - It is used as a label to imply criminality and condemnation.
According to Tilly (2003), what does the term “riot” embody?
It reflects a political judgment instead of an analytical distinction.
What do sociological traditions focus on when explaining why riots happen?
Broader/deeper social conditions like social inequality, exclusion
What aspects do psychological traditions focus on to explain why riots happen?
Distinctive characteristics of the ‘rioters’ such as rationality, personality, and morality.
What do contemporary social psychological approaches explore regarding mass disorder?
The interactional aspects and the ‘collective identity/identities’ of the crowd.
How did Le Bon view the late 19th Century in terms of societal transformation?
He saw it as the ‘era of the crowd’ with the potential to negatively transform society.
How does Le Bon describe a crowd in psychological terms?
As a psychological entity with a ‘collective mind’.
What happens to individuals’ sense of self and responsibility in a crowd?
They lose their sense of self and responsibility, becoming ‘submerged’ and feeling empowered.
What is ‘contagion’ in the context of crowd behavior?
The inability of crowd members to resist passing ideas and emotions, leading to a loss of self-control.
worse aspect of the crowd, unable to resist to the violence etc
What does Le Bon’s idea of ‘suggestibility’ indicate about crowd members?
It indicates atavism, suggesting that crowd members lose their veneer of civilization and behave more primitively.
also implies behaving like animals
What are the key criticisms of classical crowd theories?
PIG-D
- Decontextualisation
- Generalisation
- Pathologisation
- Ideological slant
- denial of voice
- denial of responsibility
- legitimized repression
PIG - D
What does ESIM mean
Elaborated Social Identity Model
According to the Elaborated Social Identity Model (ESIM), what does a crowd consist of?
A crowd contains many different ‘psychological crowds’ with different identities and intentions.
What kind of interaction effects can occur between the police and the crowd?
Interaction effects between police and crowd can create ‘vicious circles’.
What are the four principles for policing policy influenced by ESIM?
Educate
Communicate
Facilitate
Differentiate
DECaF
How were the 1960s US ‘ghetto’ riots viewed in terms of their nature?
As a mechanism of political protest, not as basic criminality or ‘irrational’ violence.
What core themes have studies of UK riots from the 1980s onwards focused on?
Structural inequality, poverty, unemployment, and racism.
What are the 6 different levels of Waddington’s flashpoint model
Ø Structural
Ø Political/ideological
Ø Cultural
Ø Contextual
Ø Situational
Ø Interactional
SPICCS
What are the structural factors in the ‘Flashpoints’ model?
Macro-sociological factors such as inequality, powerlessness, and social exclusion.
In the ‘Flashpoints’ model, what do political/ideological factors refer to?
how key institutions react to group issues (police and media)
What are cultural factors in the ‘Flashpoints’ model?
Shared ways of life, ways of viewing the world, in-group and out-group stereotypes, and rules of behavior.
What do contextual factors include in the ‘Flashpoints’ model?
Communication and historical context around the situation.
What are situational factors in the ‘Flashpoints’ model?
Specific features of the disorder’s location.
