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As the United Kingdom recovers from the recent race riots and the revelations that it was sparked by far-right politics and misinformation spread by populist figures such as Tommy Robinson and Nigel Farage, the six root causes of civil unrest are worth considering.
While the riots exposed some underlying tension in polarised British society, we can also see that this was a disproportionate amount of terror from a hooligan mob of hundreds manipulated by an even smaller group of professional agitators.
Far larger crowds of counter-protestors outnumbered rioters. Multicultural communities rallied around to protect minority groups, showing the true Blitz spirit of solidarity in the face of fascism and ending the riots as quickly as they started, on August 5.
Over 1,000 people have been arrested and nearly 600 charged in connection with the riots that erupted across the UK following a stabbing incident in Southport on July 29, with the longest sentence to date being six years.
Identity Politics and Ethnic Tensions
Ethnic tensions and cultural differences have always been exploited by political polarisation, which is now exacerbated by floods of online misinformation.
Xenophobia has long been a driver of conflict across borders. Now, as our societies have become more diverse, identity politics of scapegoating and demonising leads to domestic social fragmentation and civil conflict.
This dynamic is deliberately fuelled by populists exploiting perceived and manufactured grievances to mobilise support.
In the United States, political polarisation has driven a renaissance in identity-based politics along racial and ideological lines.
This has contributed to events like the Charlottesville rally in 2017, which highlighted the resurgence of white nationalist groups. In India, rising tensions have led to violent clashes and protests, such as in Delhi in 2020.
In extreme cases, ethnic conflicts escalate into civil war and genocide in Rwanda, Myanmar, and Palestine.
Misinformation and disinformation drive this. False narratives and conspiracy theories stoke fears and deepen divisions. Social media platforms and their owners have taken little responsibility for the spreading of misinformation and disinformation.
Economic Inequality
Economic inequality is a significant driver of civil unrest and is often the factor underlying all the other triggers.
As the gap between the rich and the poor widens, frustration and discontent among disadvantaged populations grow, often leading to protests and riots.
Historical examples vividly illustrate this trend. Rising inequality and currency debasement has been indicated as one of the reasons for the collapse of the Western Roman Empire.
The Arab Spring was significantly influenced by high unemployment rates, especially among young people, and widespread poverty despite the elites’ wealth. Similarly, the Occupy Wall Street movement in 2011 highlighted issues of economic inequality and the influence of corporate money in politics.
Economic disparities create a sense of injustice and marginalisation among lower-income groups, who feel excluded from the benefits of economic growth. This perception of inequality leads to collective action it.
However, populists often use these grievances to manipulate people. While sometimes we see the disadvantaged in unrest against the rich—think smashing Starbucks—more often, thanks to scapegoating, we see two disadvantaged groups—typically the working class and immigrants—pitted against each other.
Political Oppression and Corruption
Political repression and corruption catalyse civil unrest. When governments fail to represent their citizens or engage in corrupt or perceived corrupt practices, public trust erodes, leading to protests.
The 2019 protests in Hong Kong were sparked by a controversial extradition bill but were rooted in broader political freedom and autonomy issues.