Just returning to "why the Riots?" for a second there is an excellent compendium of links to references on the Institute for Public Policy Research website. Some really interesting historical stuff here and some very good references on policing as well as articles on equality, deprivation and other topics also well covered on this list. Apologies if people have seen this already.
http://www.ippr.org/?p=504&option=com_wordpress&Itemid=17
BW
John McGowan
-----Original Message-----
From: John McGowan [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
Sent: 24 August 2011 12:17
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: [COMMUNITYPSYCHUK] Why don't we all riot?
Indeed interesting and possible to go for a basically Marxist analysis (may not be completely wrong).
I can't help wondering if John Locke might have something to offer here though. Mainly the notion that the people confer legitimacy on government entering into "a Community for mutual good".
It's quite well put in his second treatise on government. Quote courtesy of Wikipedia:
"IF man in the state of nature be so free, as has been said; if he be absolute lord of his own person and possessions, equal to the greatest, and subject to no body, why will he part with his freedom? Why will he give up this empire, and subject himself to the dominion and control of any other power? To which it is obvious to answer, that though in the state of nature he hath such a right, yet the enjoyment of it is very uncertain, and constantly exposed to the invasion of others: for all being kings as much as he, every man his equal, and the greater part no strict observers of equity and justice, the enjoyment of the property he has in this state is very unsafe, very unsecure. This makes him willing to quit a condition, which, however free, is full of fears and continual dangers: and it is not without reason, that he seeks out, and is willing to join in society with others, who are already united, or have a mind to unite, for the mutual preservation of their lives, liberties and estates, which I call by the general name, property"
John McGowan
-----Original Message-----
From: Fryer, David [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
Sent: 23 August 2011 04:05
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: [COMMUNITYPSYCHUK] Why don't we all riot?
Dear Steph,
Thanks for your post. I think that the implications of your post, especially the 4th line, are profoundly important
David
From: The UK Community Psychology Discussion List [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Stephanie Meadows
Sent: Saturday, 20 August 2011 9:36 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Why don't we all riot?
Why don't we all riot? I agree it's a much more psychologically interesting question
because we have games consoles, dvd players, gadgets, drugs, shopping, celebrities, mortgages and infinite other addictions that keep us placated or overwhelmed...
if we lose our calm then we're either mad or thugs... plenty of mechanisms holding people in their places...
maybe we only riot when it suits the powers that be to distract from something they might be up to, or to begin the process of clearing land for redevelopment
________________________________
Date: Fri, 19 Aug 2011 17:34:00 +0100
From: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: [COMMUNITYPSYCHUK] Why don't we all riot?
To: [log in to unmask]
The real question is why don't more of us riot and why didn't the riots happen a lot sooner, like when they started adding VAT at 8%, then put it up to 15%, now its 20%. I think if more of the population understood it is a fifth of their spending potential they would all riot. We are taxed when we earn it and again when we spend it. And if we save anything we are taxed on the interest and now they are even taxing pensioners if their pension comes to more than £100 per week. Then the coup de gras was when they started taking death duties why didn't we riot then?
We should have rioted over income taxes, which was instated to help to fight Napoleon. What about when they added taxes to petrol and increased the price of everything at a stroke? Then when we had to sit and watch ourselves getting ripped off to the tune of billions [I forget how many] to build a glorified tent called the Millennium Dome [where was the Cowboy Builders team Melinda and Dominic then eh?]. Then we were ripped off again when they sold it. The way the British people are treated by our elected leaders, I am surprised we aren't always rioting.
Best wishes Jo
________________________________
From: COMMUNITYPSYCHUK automatic digest system <[log in to unmask]>
To: [log in to unmask]
Sent: Sat, 13 August, 2011 0:02:16
Subject: COMMUNITYPSYCHUK Digest - 11 Aug 2011 to 12 Aug 2011 (#2011-108)
There are 2 messages totaling 511 lines in this issue.
Topics of the day:
1. York discussion of ' Why the riots?'
2. After the unrest
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Date: Fri, 12 Aug 2011 21:24:16 +1000
From: "Fryer, David" <[log in to unmask]>
Subject: York discussion of ' Why the riots?'
Dear Carl and all,
Regarding "I wonder if anyone is interested in meeting in York next month to think about ways in which members from this list (and beyond) might think through some ways in which to usefully place ourselves in, promote, and support the debate on the prolonged violence of neoliberal capitalism which could follow recent events? We could meet at the end of a day perhaps?"
I would be interested in meeting as suggested.
Regarding a "prolonged discussion" following your symposium on resisting the institutionalisation of personal debt on Thursday 15th, 16.30-18.00, debate would be great but just to observe:
a) 0915 - 1300 is dedicated on the first day (Thursday) of the conference to discussion of Richard Wilkinson's work on why and how more unequal societies almost always do worse than equal ones
b) there appear to be up to ten parallel sessions scheduled at the time of your session so many of us could not attend your session;
c) I just noticed that Serdar appears to be in 2 sessions simultaneously: debt and napalm (nb Jacqui)
d) the programme is draft and subject to confirmation
But back to topic: I totally agree that discussion locating neoliberal capitalism at the centre of debates about suffering is essential at York. Both days are pretty packed but I am sure we can make time when all could make it along who want to
David
David Fryer
Professor of Community Critical Psychology, Charles Sturt University, Australia Professor Extraordinarius, University of South Africa Honorary Senior Research Fellow, University of Stirling, Scotland
President: European Community Psychology Association
________________________________
From: The UK Community Psychology Discussion List [[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Carl Walker [[log in to unmask]]
Sent: 11 August 2011 19:01
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Why the riots?
Hi All
Spot on Mark. Recently, with critical colleagues from around the world, we have submitted an edited book trying to explicitly draw attention to the ways in which mental distress and suffering are experienced in relation to neoliberal social, political and economic activities, to warn against the deeply problematic globalisation of western psychology to alleviate this distress, and to consider the possibilities and limitations of interventions that have emerged from international critical community psychology perspectives. However I am aware of the limitations of such a project.
I wonder if anyone is interested in meeting in York next month to think about ways in which members from this list (and beyond) might think through some ways in which to usefully place ourselves in, promote, and support the debate on the prolonged violence of neoliberal capitalism which could follow recent events? We could meet at the end of a day perhaps?
Otherwise Mark, Serdar Deširmenciošlu, Jacqueline Akhurst and I will be doing a symposium on resisting the institutionalisation of personal debt which draws heavily on critiques of neoliberal capitalism and suffering (Thursday 15th, 4.30-6). We would like to have a prolonged discussion following our talks to think about future work/action and any interested members will be very welcome at the discussion.
Sorry if this reads like a shameless plug for a book/symposium. I just wanted to outline that there seems to be a growing body of people in critical community psychology that are looking to locate neoliberal capitalism at the centre of debates about suffering and think about ways to resist it. Such activities are far from new but this still feels like a good time to work together.
In the meantime I'm off to tend the mass audition for the Fox news channel that my Facebook page has recently morphed into.
Best wishes
Carl Walker
Carl Walker
School of Applied Social Science
University of Brighton
Mayfield House
Falmer
Brighton BN1 9PH
t. 01273 643475
e. [log in to unmask]<UrlBlockedError.aspx>
On 11/08/2011, at 7:56 AM, Mark Burton wrote:
Appalled by the standard of debate bout these events....here's my take on it:- Why the riots?
The neoliberal capitalism of Thatcher, Murdoch, Blair, Bush, Obama, China, the banks, Jonathan Ross, Richard Branson, has.....
Taught us that what is important is material possessions Made whole sections of the population superfluous Funded the gaining of possessions through high levels of personal and household debt Destroyed traditional communities based on workplace, destroying the sources of self worth and responsibility Ridiculed collective values, privatised and marginalised social provision Commercialised childhood Forced many working people into unemployment, underemployment or insecure, casual low wage work, stressing and undermining family life Fetishised the trivial, the celebrity, cheapening culture and celebrating selfishness and boorishness Encouraged rocketing inequality Shown that exotic levels of violence against people and their towns and cities is just fine Encouraged the import of cheap labour and thereby sown distrust and division among working people Crashed, increasing poverty, inequality, precariousness, resentment and further weakened collective, social, cultural resources.
So why the surprise?
The riots are not a protest
The riots are not caused by public spending cuts The riots are not a result of criminality The riots are not riots The riots are not class action The riots are not a result of bad parenting The riots are not the politics of envy The riots are all these things and none of them
The riots are a result of a coming together of forces and processes. There is no simple explanation and no explanation in the behaviour of the individual looter.
To understand the riots requires an understanding of how economy, politics, ideology, belief, motivation, morality, socialisation and the dynamics of belonging and alienation work together as system and systems.
Don't tell me that is an excuse, and don't tell me how tough you are going to be. Tell me you see that this is complicated and it requires a completely different way of living our society.
As ye sow, so shall ye reap. The harvest of neoliberal capitalism is well and truly home.
--
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Date: Fri, 12 Aug 2011 14:21:39 +0000
From: "Jacqueline Akhurst (J.Akhurst)" <[log in to unmask]>
Subject: After the unrest
Dear all,
Please see the comments from our group - scroll down at http://www.bps.org.uk/news/coverage-riots-increases-anxiety . In particular note the call for help from Hayley Lewis (copied below).
Regards,
Jacqui
As someone who is a chartered psychologist, a local government manager (at Croydon Council) and a resident (of Croydon), I have been handling the aftermath of the riots from different perspectives.
We're now beginning to see the trauma and distress emerge for those directly affected by the riots - those made homeless, who lost their livelihoods, or who witnessed the acts of violence and destruction. As such, I'm putting out a call to all psychologists, with the requisite skills, to come forward and volunteer some time to help us support those affected by the riots. This can be our way of helping with the #riotcleanup (to coin the Twitter trend).
This is something that hasn't just affected Croydon so why not contact your local council, in affected areas, and ask if they need your help?
If you are interested, willing and able please either drop a line to either the BPS Twitter feed @BPSOfficial, my own feed @haypsych, or even better my email address [log in to unmask]
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End of COMMUNITYPSYCHUK Digest - 11 Aug 2011 to 12 Aug 2011 (#2011-108)
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