Riots and protest in Europe

Abstract

Rioting in Europe has a history. Speaking of the eighteenth century, Eric Hobsbawm remarked that 'No other European country has so strong a tradition of rioting as Britain'. The mobilisation of hitherto passive bystanders is not the only way in which riot may be precipitated. The political marginalisation from existing forms of grievance articulation may itself lay the foundation for the development of new social movements. Riots can be an aspect of the painful birth of new types of social movements among young people who, as a 'multitude' destined for precarious labour or even surplus to the requirements of neoliberal capitalism are indeed orphaned from many of the older working-class political traditions now in deep crisis. Over recent years Europe has seen a number of direct action protest movements taking to the streets over diverse issues such as environmental concerns, perceptions of injustice in criminal justice, education changes and moves to criminalise squatters and travellers, to name but a few.