The question that is most in my mind when reading about the UK riots is how well the explanations being advanced stand-up, and whether Australia has built a society that inoculates us against similar occurrences.

Living in Brisbane I feel a world away from what is happening in London and elsewhere, but a quick scan of Google says that Australia has had a number of riots in recent times. I could only think of the Cronulla riot http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2005_Cronulla_riots, but Wikipedia reminded me that there had been riots at Macquarie Fields http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2005_Macquarie_Fields_riots, Palm Island http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2004_Palm_Island_death_in_custody and Redfern http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2004_Redfern_riots.

There is definitely a racial element in some of them, but not others, and the levels of poverty vary to a certain extent as well.

None of these riots was as severe as the British ones, but what is the explanation for that? Are social differences smaller here, or is it just that the UK is a much larger country with larger concentrations of deprivation?

Hi Graham,

The Sydney Morning Herald had an interesting article
by UK columnist, Zoe Williams. She claims that the
riots are something we've never seen before. These
are "shopping riots." They're characterized by their
consumer choices. Crowds moving into shopping centres
to shop. The type of goods being looted Williams
points out are relevant. If they were going for bare
necessities (stealing bread, milk et cetera) one might
be inclined toward sympathy but when you're nicking
trainers, laptops, flat-screen TVs. This is pure
criminality untainted by a higher purpose. Because as
Williams says - we all know "it's illegal to smash shop
windows and steal things."

What's also interesting is that although some in the crowd
are covering their faces many are not. They give the impression
that people just don't believe they'll go to prison anymore
at least not for something as petty as trainers. Williams
points to the leniency of the court system in the UK and also
claims that "This is what happens when people don't have
anaything; when they have their noses constantly rubbed in
stuff they can't afford, and they have no reason ever to
believe they will be able to afford it."

Could this happen in Australia?
Absolutely. If we allow the gap between the rich and the poor
to widen greatly. If we have drastic cut-backs
in infrastructure and social services,
such as education, health, decent housing, et cetera.
If unemployment becomes severe. Problems can occur
in any society where conditions become rife for unrest as history
has shown us in the past.

They can, they will, they have.
While shopping is a fact, being poor and no job prospects too.
We must confront the fact difference drives these things.
Cronulla was a small look in to our future.
Indian Vs Muslim riots/brawls in western Sydney too.
Simplistic it is the other sides fault views are no answer.
Governments getting us together on the sporting Field is a good idea.
But then third generation Australians still go to war there too,as in tennis and Soccer.

"None of these riots was as severe as the British ones, but what is the explanation for that? Are social differences smaller here, or is it just that the UK is a much larger country with larger concentrations of deprivation?"

Graham
England has always been characterised by a stronger class sytsem than here. I schooled with a majority of working class English students and even as a teenager I noted the working classes had their rules about 'knowing one's place' or 'not getting above yourself'. It is also a very Irish mentality (my mother's ancestors).

My feelings are similar to Lexi's comments above, and while I don't know if the disparity here is any wider than in the UK, Australians are fairly egalitarian and have a strong sense of justice. England is also impacted far greater in the economic downturn than we in Australia.

The situation might change here if the calls to reduce minimum wages is taken seriously which will only widen the gap further, especially if austerity measures are perceived as not being shared across the broader population.

There is an interesting backlash to the riots, many people across England calling for calm and getting together to clean up the mess. It is hard to find a positive side but maybe the riots will be cathartic and an opportunity for people to come together with greater tolerance and understanding. That sounds a bit twee but it seems to be happening across those areas in England most affected by the riots. Maybe in adversity comes solidarity.

Another fact that has just been discussed on the news
is that the majority of the looters are juveniles
and under the English-Law System cannot be punished.

According to the UK media -
It appears that the adults have taken advantage of
this situation and sent in juveniles to do the looting.

If it can happen in the UK, it can happen here.

Of course it could happen here.

Especially if we pander to the false sense of self-entitlement which these violent rioters display in their lawlessness and disrespect of other peoples property.

And don't think for one minute it is caused by some economic divide between rich and poor... that is just psycho-babble and socialist propaganda and an excuse for more economic leveling like the Carbon Tax - where

indolence and violence = welfare entitlement