The Guardian
·Apr 2001
A Brief History of Mob Rule
The article traces British rioting from medieval and early-modern disturbances to the anticipated May Day protests of 2001. It argues that mobs have historically targeted symbolic sites of wealth, authority, religion, foreignness and economic oppression, often announcing their targets in advance and using anticipation as a disruptive tactic. Examples include the Peasants’ Revolt, the Gordon and Luddite riots, anti-Catholic and xenophobic violence, and modern attacks on commercial property and police. The piece concludes that contemporary anti-globalisation protesters, despite their different ideology, belong to a long tradition in which riots function as political performances directed at symbols of power.