The Clash's Prophecy

You've all done it. Pretty much all of you anyway. Given me that glazed look of confusion when I try and explain my interest in political science and my degree. 'What does it mean?'...'What do you actually study?'

Well, Mr Birmingham has given a sort of explanation in this piece. It's not about party politics and the in/outs of that as some may think. Political Science is a look at how we construct and structure our societies and the conventions we uphold in the name of the 'social contract'. That tacit agreement where citizens give up 'total' freedom to governments in exchange for protection against anarchy and disorder.

Yes, in the eye of the London riots and more global financial misery on the cards, the fabric, or lack thereof, that holds a society together is back in focus. The handwringing and analysis has already started in asking why, asking how. But the simpliest of answers is that the social contract broke down, for whatever reasons, and those that felt powerless and with little control over their lives went out to get themselves some power and get themselves some control.

That's the tenuous balance that all civilised societies must manage. To be inclusive and to enfranchise its citizens. To ensure they feel part of something bigger than themselves. Otherwise, that society will fracture and there'll be a slowburn of angst and unrest from those who do not feel included. All before the inevitable explosion of anarchy and mayhem. And the fact these riots have occurred in one of the oldest democracies in history just goes to show how fragile that balance is.

But of course there's many elements to this. Some obvious and easy to explain. Most not so though. The mass of human thought and emotion is just too damn complicated to come up with the exact answer and an exact remedy. But the tweets below quoted in Birmingham's piece certainly allude to some of the feelings and views I have:

@BrandonCarroway: "You all want the army and cops turned loose on destitute black kids but white thieving bankers are okay by you."

@dazzazza: "Sorry but this is not a "revolution". In a revolution you bring down a corrupted elite,not your hard working neighbours!!"

@VickyAnscombe: "Wow, these rioters are really sticking it to the man - those newsagent owners and shopkeepers can't oppress them any more!"

And for a more personal take on it all, this piece is well worth a read. Having lived in London before, the names of suburbs being torched and looted are all too familiar. But just as the floods in Brisbane earlier in the year compelled me to write and discuss, there's no point of view like that of someone living in it and living through it.

Til next time,

EDM.