The English Riots of 2011 : A Summer of Discontent

From Facebook, Twitter, BlackBerry and gossip to hard facts, research and empirical investigation, this outstanding collection looks at the nature and causes of the English Riots of 2011 one year after they occurred. Though worrying in their nature, speed and scale, the book points out that rioting is nothing new - even if technological advances have altered their 'organization', the way in which the police respond and the incessant nature of media coverage. From 'moral panics' to 'broken Britain' and anxieties about youth crime, the book looks at various flashpoints of the riots such as the killing of Mark Duggan by police marksmen, the widespread looting, the political and criminal justice responses and a growing discontent about the current neoliberal order. The book rejects Coalition Prime Minister David Cameron's much-publicized assertion that these events were 'criminality, pure and simple', just as it counters attempts to lay blame on sections of the community or 'outsiders'. Looking at phenomena such as 'shopping for free' and the idea that the lawlessness represented some kind of instant carnival, it concentrates on how order was restored and individuals fast-tracked via police cells and courts into harsh sentences as well as issues of marginality, hopelessness, political and economic corruption and media distortions. Wide-ranging and expert in its analysis, it also considers the modern-day global context for riots as well as comparing Brixton 1981 and other iconic events of the past. Further highlights include: the role of new social media in terms of recruitment, resistance, and surveillance; the role of the urban street gang; gender, racialization, resentment, post-riot rhetoric and the profiling the 2011 rioters. It looks at how the riots spread to other cities in the UK including Manchester, Liverpool and Birmingham - as well as examining events and attitudes in places such as Spain, Greece, and those of the Arab Spring. Asks Who, When and Why? Includes first-hand accounts from 2011 rioters, victims and the public Applies historical, cultural, structural and social perspectives to the English Riots of 2011 Considers the aftermath of the riots and the wider picture of global social unrest Editor Dr Daniel Briggs is a Reader in Criminology and Criminal Justice at the University of East London who also works with the most vulnerable people to the most dangerous and the most misunderstood. His work has taken him into prisons, crack houses, mental health institutions, asylum institutions, hostels, care homes, hospices and places for the homeless. He is the author of Crack Cocaine Users: High Society and Low Life in South London (Routledge, 2011). Contributors In this book he is assisted by contributions from some 20 leading commentators: Stephanie Alice Baker, Tim Bateman, Steve Briggs, Joel Busher, Celia Díaz-Catalán, Rebecca Clarke, Aisha K. Gill, Steve Hall, Simon Harding, Vicky Heap, Steven Hirschler, Liz Kelly, Axel Klein, Lorenzo Navarréte-Moreno, Geoffrey Pearson, Hannah Smithson, John Strawson, Sheldon Thomas, Simon Winlow and Ricardo Zúñiga. 'From Facebook, Twitter, BlackBerry and gossip to hard facts, research and empirical investigation, this outstanding collection looks at the nature and causes of the English Riots of 2011 one year after they occurred. Though worrying in their nature, speed and scale, the book points out that rioting is nothing new - even if technological advances have altered their ‘organization', the way in which the police respond and the incessant nature of media coverage. From ‘moral panics'to ‘broken Britain'and anxieties about youth crime, the book looks at various flashpoints of the riots such as the killing of Mark Duggan by police marksmen, the widespread looting, the political and criminal justice responses and a growing discontent about the current neoliberal order. The book rejects Coalition Prime Minister David Cameron's much-publicized assertion that these events were ‘criminality, pure and simple', just as it counters attempts to lay blame on sections of the community or ‘outsiders'. Looking at phenomena such as ‘shopping for free'and the idea that the Lawlessness represented some kind of instant carnival, it concentrates on how order was restored and individuals fast-tracked via police cells and courts into harsh sentences as well as issues of marginality, hopelessness, political and economic corruption and media distortions. Wide-ranging and expert in its analysis, it also considers the modern-day global context for riots as well as comparing Brixton 1981 and other iconic events of the past. Further highlights include: the role of new social media in terms of recruitment, resistance, and surveillance; the role of the urban street gang; gender, racialization, resentment, post-riot rhetoric and the profiling the 2011 rioters. It looks at how the riots spread to other cities in the 1st including Manchester, Liverpool and Birmingham - as well as examining events and attitudes in places such as Spain, Greece, and those of the Arab Spring. Asks Who, When and Why? Includes first-hand accounts from 2011 rioters, victims and the public Applies historical, cultural, structural and social perspectives to the English Riots of 2011 Considers the aftermath of the riots and the wider picture of global social unrest Dr Daniel Briggs is a Reader in Criminology and Criminal Justice at the University of East London who also works with the most vulnerable people to the most dangerous and the most misunderstood. His work has taken him into prisons, crack houses, mental health institutions, asylum institutions, hostels, care homes, hospices and places for the homeless. He is the author of Crack Cocaine Users: High Society and Low Life in South London (Routledge, 2011). In this book he is assisted by contributions from some 20 leading commentators: Stephanie Alice Baker, Tim Bateman, Steve Briggs, Joel Busher, Celia Díaz-Catalán, Rebecca Clarke, Aisha K. Gill, Steve Hall, Simon Harding, Vicky Heap, Steven Hirschler, Liz Kelly, Axel Klein, Lorenzo Navarréte-Moreno, Geoffrey Pearson, Hannah Smithson, John Strawson, Sheldon Thomas, Simon Winlow and Ricardo Zúñiga.' Cover 1 Copyright 4 Contents 6 Acknowledgements 9 About the Editor 10 Introduction 11 Daniel Briggs 11 Frustrations, Urban Relations and Temptations: 29 Contextualising the English Riots 29 Daniel Briggs 29 Rioting in Context 45 Everything Changes, Nothing Moves: 47 The Longue Durée of Social Anxieties about Youth Crime 47 Geoffrey Pearson 47 Riots in Retrospective: 67 Immigration and the Crisis of the ‘Other’ 67 Steven Hirschler 67 With the Benefit of Hindsight: 93 The Disturbances of August 2011 in Historical Context 93 Tim Bateman 93 Revisiting Brixton: 113 The War on Babylon 1981 113 Sheldon Thomas 113 More Police, Less Safety? 129 Policing as a Causal Factor in the Outbreak of Riots and Public Disturbances 129 Axel Klein 129 Who, How and Why? 149 Gone Shopping: 151 Inarticulate Politics in the English Riots of 2011 151 Simon Winlow and Steve Hall 151 Policing the Riots: 171 New Social Media as Recruitment, Resistance, and Surveillance 171 Stephanie Alice Baker 171 Street Government: 195 The Role of the Urban Street Gang in the London Riots 195 Simon Harding 195 Reading the Riots Through Gender: 217 A Feminist Reflection on England’s 2011 Riots 217 Liz Kelly and Aisha K. Gill 217 The Aftermath 237 ‘There Are None Sicker Than the EDL’: 239 Narratives of Racialisation and Resentment from Whitehall and Eltham, London 239 Joel Busher 239 From Words of Action to the Action of Words: 259 Politics, Post-riot Rhetoric and Contractual Governance 259 Vicky Heap and Hannah Smithson 259 Profiling the ‘Rioters’: 281 Findings from Manchester 281 Rebecca Clarke 281 Rurality and the Riots: 305 From the Panel to the Village Pub 305 Steve Briggs 305 The Wider Picture: Social Change and Global Discontent 329 State-Sponsored Riot: 331 Tales of Revolt and Crime in Egypt 2011 331 John Strawson 331 ‘If You Won’t Let Us Dream, Then We Won’t Let You Sleep’: 349 Demarcation of Spaces and the Rise of the Spanish 15 M 349 Lorenzo Navarréte-Moreno, Celia Díaz-Catalán and Ricardo Zúñiga 349 Post-Modern Greek Tragedy: 363 Walking in the Steps of Thucydides in Athens 363 Daniel Briggs 363 Concluding Thoughts 383 Daniel Briggs 383 Index 405 english riots,2011 riots,london riots,england riots,civil unrest,civil disturbance,youth crime,disaffected youth,social breakdown From Facebook, Twitter, Blackberry And Gossip To Hard Facts, Research And Empirical Investigation, This Outstanding Collection Looks At The Nature And Causes Of The English Riots Of 2011 One Year After They Occurred. Though Worrying In Their Nature, Speed And Scale, The Book Points Out That Rioting Is Nothing New - Even If Technological Advances Have Altered Their 'organization', The Way In Which The Police Respond And The Incessant Nature Of Media Coverage. From 'moral Panics' To 'broken Britain' And Anxieties About Youth Crime, The Book Looks At Various Flashpoints Of The Riots Such As The Killing Of Mark Duggan By Police Marksmen, The Widespread Looting, The Political And Criminal Justice Responses And A Growing Discontent About The Current Neoliberal Order. The Book Rejects Coalition Prime Minister David Cameron's Much-publicized Assertion That These Events Were 'criminality, Pure And Simple', Just As It Counters Attempts To Lay Blame On Sections Of The Community Or 'outsiders'. Looking At Phenomena Such As 'shopping For Free' And The Idea That The Lawlessness Represented Some Kind Of Instant Carnival, It Concentrates On How Order Was Restored And Individuals Fast-tracked Via Police Cells And Courts Into Harsh Sentences As Well As Issues Of Marginality, Hopelessness, Political And Economic Corruption And Media Distortions. Wide-ranging And Expert In Its Analysis, It Also Considers The Modern-day Global Context For Riots As Well As Comparing Brixton 1981 And Other Iconic Events Of The Past. Further Highlights Include: The Role Of New Social Media In Terms Of Recruitment, Resistance, And Surveillance; The Role Of The Urban Street Gang; Gender, Racialization, Resentment, Post-riot Rhetoric And The Profiling The 2011 Rioters. It Looks At How The Riots Spread To Other Cities In The Uk Including Manchester, Liverpool And Birmingham - As Well As Examining Events And Attitudes In Places Such As Spain, Greece, And Those Of The Arab Spring. Pt. 1. Rioting In Context -- Pt. 2. Who, How And Why? -- Pt. 3. The Aftermath -- Pt. 4. The Wider Picture : Social Change And Global Discontent Edited By Daniel Briggs. Includes Web Resources. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. Rejecting David Cameron's assertion that the riots were 'criminality, pure and simple' the evidence presented in this new book places the disturbances in an economic, global and social context