Experts have cast doubt on the possibility of the recent riots in France spilling over into the UK, citing a different protest culture and a more fragmented and less organised population. They suggest that a specific 'trigger event' would be needed to spark similar levels of chaos on British streets.
French Unrest Explained
Professor John Preston, a sociology expert at the University of Essex, explained the origins of the disorder in France. According to the disasters and emergency situations expert, the civil unrest was initially student-led, driven by underfunded public education. Workers and farmers have since joined the protests due to rising fuel costs and the cost of living crisis.
Professor Preston noted that the policies of the Macron government are perceived as out of touch with the issues of ordinary people, and that the government does not have a parliamentary majority. While radical left groups were responsible for the protests at the beginning, the movement has since expanded to include wider groups such as Trade Unions and the Yellow Vests ('Gilets Jaunes').
UK Protests Less Organised
Despite the differences, Professor Preston acknowledged that Brits can become equally fired up about political issues and wider grievances. However, he pointed out that the UK does not share the same history of violent protests, and that groups on the left and the right are smaller, more fragmented, and less organised than in France.
Professor Hugo Gorringe, an expert in dynamics between police and protestors, believes the UK has a different 'culture' around protest compared to France. He stated that this cultural difference makes French protests more confrontational and gives them a higher potential for violence.
Police-Public Relations
Professor Gorringe explained that there are different cultures of contention in both countries, with protest in France tending to be more confrontational and dramatic than in the UK. He noted that relations between police and the public also differ, adding that there is a stronger 'us vs them' relationship between police and marginalised youth in France.
He cited an incident where a projectile blew a 15-year-old's hand off, which he said feeds into a wider narrative of illegitimate and disproportionate policing, potentially leading to further violence. Professor Gorringe concluded that while unrest in the UK is not impossible, given similar underlying conditions, he would expect to see a 'triggering' incident or event in the country first.
