Geopolitics Review — 19th August 2024

Riots In The UK

“A lie can travel halfway around the world while the truth is still putting its shoes on” — Mark Twain

Contents

1. Introduction
2. What’s Happening In The UK?
3. Methods of Protest
4. Issues To Be Addressed
5. Media Fearmongering
6. Concluding Remarks

Bitesize Edition

• At the end of July, we saw riots in the UK after an awful attack in Southport where three young girls were killed and many others were injured. Misinformation spread rapidly online regarding the attacker’s identity, and protestors flocked to the streets, protesting against the government and immigration.
• These riots were seen in many cities around the country. Some grew violent, with attacks on libraries, a hotel housing asylum seekers, and a citizen’s advice bureau. Twitter helped fuel the flames of the violence, and Telegram saw thousands organise riots in groups.
• Now that the riots have ended, I thought it opportune to reflect on what occurred, why it occurred, what we must address moving forward, and the role the media played in this sequence of events.

Introduction

These recent riots were the biggest the UK has seen since 2011, and they saw Kier Starmer kept rather busy, as he has been since the start of his government. How did Starmer manage the riots, and what issues are we seeing within the UK that are leading to these riots? Find out more below.

What Happened?

At the end of July, we saw a 17-year-old boy wielding a knife launch an attack on a dance class, killing three young girls. Six of the eleven injured children were in critical condition after the attack, and two adults were also attacked, seeking to defend other children at the dance from the attacker.This is a heinous and disgraceful attack, with no reasoning. The pain felt by the families is truly incomprehensible, and I wish them every ounce of love.In response to this attack, peaceful vigils occurred in Southport. But, after the attacks, a group filled with hate, with no thought for anybody but themselves, decided to launch into violent protest after misinformation spread online about the attacker, who was incorrectly believed to be a Muslim asylum seeker who arrived in the UK illegally. .The attacker was a 17-year-old boy who was born in Cardiff to parents of Rwandan descent, whose name was released to the public after a judge ruling, only a week before his 18th birthday. The fears were that not releasing his name would contribute to the spiralling misinformation.

Photo by ev on

Still, the protests erupted regardless. The “reasoning” behind the protests was targeted towards asylum seekers and immigration. .How is burning down an educational building, potentially trapping people inside a burning building, or limiting those who wish to help others through a citizen’s advice bureau going to achieve anything? Short answer, it isn’t.Since these protests erupted, 100 were arrested outside Downing Street early into the riots. Many others in protests in Bristol, Belfast, Hull, Leeds, and Sunderland, among other regions of the country were also arrested. Since the beginning of the riots, over 1000 people have been arrested, with over 500 being charged. It’s the crackdown on the violence and hefty prison sentences that are being stated as contributing reasons as to why the riots have since died down. However, an additional contributor will likely be the return of football here in the UK on Friday 9th August, with football hooliganism groups cited as contributing to some of the riots. This is one such deep-rooted issue that has existed in the UK for decades.These protests are described as “anti-government, anti-Muslim, and anti-multiculturalism”, as stated by advocacy group, Hope Not Hate. Counter-groups also arose, protesting against these violent attacks. Many participants in the riots are linked to the defunct English Defence League, though these protests haven’t been organised by any remnants of the group directly. The founder of the former far-right group, Tommy Robinson, is currently in Cyprus after he fled the country and didn’t attend a court hearing. He was arrested and granted unconditional bail before he fled the country.He himself has stated on Twitter that the violent protests were grievances with government failures and policies. A new government was put in place just over a month ago. They immediately scrapped the Rwanda Scheme, which would have cost billions of pounds, and had already seen no viable results. Others on Twitter, which is known for being a shitstorm of misinformation, bots, and the stoking of negativity, were throwing their pennies-worth in on the riots. Elon Musk stated civil war was underway and Twitter is notorious for fearmongering. Negativity sells, and gains further attention from more news outlets. With every iteration of a news event being covered, someone could slightly alter an aspect of the story, and you have a runaway misinformation train. These figures in the public eye see few if any, repercussions for stoking such events as the riots here in the UK. When does the right to free speech become a public safety issue?

Photo by Alexander Shatov on

Methods of Protest

There is a problem, as I’ve discussed before with a country and its basket of necessities. The UK is a small landmass, with limited ability to be self-sufficient due to a large population. However, aimless, racially motivated attacks, filled with hate and violence, achieve absolutely nothing. There are good people and bad people in the world. Unfortunately, the worst people have been on display in the UK over the last few weeks, likely for reasons many of the rioters don’t even know themselves. Violence for the sake of violence has been seen by many.There are countless videos of volunteers helping clean up and rebuild after these protests. It’s this sense of togetherness that a community shattered by such an awful crime needs, not thoughtless violence against those who don’t deserve it. Police officers have been attacked for doing their jobs. These are normal people, who want to protect good people from the small proportion of bad people. How can violence justifiably be aimed at police officers by these violent groups? Again, nothing is achieved.

Photo by Oli Woodman on

The methods of some on the far-right have been proven this past week. In the face of unimaginable tragedy, they opted for hate and violence, against people who do not deserve it, purely because of their racially-charged beliefs. How this helps tackle government policy issues is beyond me. It seems to damage those trying to make ends meet in run-down local areas, a consequence of austerity, and a lack of funding for local councils. Many on the far-right state that grooming gangs have been allowed to exist for decades in the UK, hence why they fight so strongly against immigration. There are multiple examples of these far-right groups misquoting or pressuring survivors of this abuse to mention immigration and Muslims as a part of the blame for it occurring, once again, to further their own cause. That grooming gangs exist in the UK is a despicable crime that needs to be investigated and cracked down upon. What cannot be justified, is using this as fuel for racially-charged violence to further your own cause.This violence we’re seeing on the streets of the UK is crime. The fact that it’s politically and racially fuelled doesn’t make it free speech. It’s a violent crime and an issue of public safety. Sure, some of the rioters could state immigration is a national security issue. Again, there are good people and a small proportion of bad people in the world. Any good person has a right to pursue a better life for themselves. If that is in the UK, they should be welcomed with open arms.

What Issues Must Be Addressed?

It’s true that public services have declined in the UK. The NHS has seen waiting times expand, and councils have seen town centres diminish in quality, with countless buildings bordered up. Courts are also supposedly backlogged with over 90,000 cases. The new Labour government came out a few weeks ago and transparently and openly discussed the financial situation the UK finds itself in, through a speech from Rachel Reeves. We need a long-term plan to improve our public services, to tackle knife crime, and to stem illegal immigration. We need investment in public services, which is something Labour is seemingly pursuing especially through the hope for private investment.However, Labour have to make a visible difference, or they will be viewed in the same light as the previous government, full of empty words. They can’t, however, be expected to make a difference within a month or two. The problem of illegal immigration also has to be addressed, to limit the strain on already strained services, and to ensure the quality of life and services in the UK don’t decline further, for the benefit of all who live here. Pursuing these changes is an aspect of democracy, and discussion between those of opposing views should be encouraged. After all, if we’re not providing ourselves with opportunities to alter our beliefs, then we’re living in a closed bubble. If you hold any opinion, and you listen to an opposing opinion, it can either make you more convinced of your current opinion, or it can influence your opinion, making you more informed of a situation or issue. They say the best way to solidify your view on a topic is to be able to argue the other side of the issue. It's a principle that should be prioritised in any disagreement in life.What is key here, however, is the methods used. Racially fuelled violence has no place anywhere, and rightly so, the crackdown has been swift.

Photo by Cullan Smith on

If we want to see serious change, a level of cooperation from local communities, all the way to the very top of government, has to be aimed for. We live in an incredibly diverse country, and open discourse along every level of society in the UK will ensure those who truly seek a better future, driven by togetherness, and not hate, can make their voices heard. Those who resort to violence will then be called out as criminals, not viewed by some as saviours of democracy. This is true nationalism. It is for the good of the entire country, not a proportion of the country. We need a real strategy to develop social cohesion, not fracture it further. I believe this begins with educational reform. Many rioters were singing Rule Brittania during their marches. Of course, citizens can feel patriotic for their country, but do we not possess better methods of promoting patriotism than a 1740 poem about waves that Britain hasn’t ruled for a century? Do they want to once again rule the world? Do some also feel a level of nostalgia for a period of colonisation?The global basket of necessities and the hoarding of these necessities is over. Everybody deserves access to basic necessities, such as food and water. But, these underdeveloped countries and developing countries also deserve to pave a better collective future for themselves. If we want to limit illegal immigration, perhaps we need to take a wider view of the world. If the global basket of necessities is split more equally, then would many who risk their lives to flee these countries see a future for themselves where staying within the country of origin can provide them with a positive future? Sure, just as there are good people and bad people, there will be good leaders and bad leaders, and good countries and bad countries. Still, the bad isn’t the majority.Within the UK, we need greater education on culture, history, and the damage caused by the centuries of exploiting those less fortunate, especially through resource extraction and slavery. A level of community engagement growing up will also help. The Conservatives attempted some attempt at this with Rishi Sunak’s “National Service” strategy. The marketing was all wrong, and “national service” made many think they’d be marching to war. Local community projects however will promote positive interaction and understanding, prioritising togetherness, not fracturing like we see today and I believe it’s a strategy that should be pursued, albeit without reference to “national service”. Representation is needed of all ethnic groups and religions here in the UK, and regular dialogue between MPs and community leaders should be pursued. Again, sometimes, a small amount of hope, and the potential for a more promising future, is enough to bring cohesion.

Photo by Jorge Percival on

The government has to acknowledge the mistakes of the past, particularly around illegal immigration, and have to pursue a clear strategy to reverse these issues. Periods of austerity in the UK have stifled productivity, seen communities slip into decline, and left many frustrated. Social cohesion has to be discussed. Most importantly, any rioters being violent need to be cracked down upon. There is no space for it. Period.

The Media Fearmongerers

One final aspect I want to discuss is the role media plays in the spread of fear, misinformation, and stereotypes. Legacy media is fading away. Very few people, especially those of the younger demographics, buy newspapers. I also try to avoid the negative mainstream media news spiral, seeing it always led by one overruling narrative, while casting aside many issues that deserve coverage. It’s because negativity sells. It spirals into fear, and we keep coming back for more. The belief is if we’re more informed, we’re more prepared, right? It’s a large contributing factor to why I write this newsletter. I want to understand the world around me. Balancing the line between pursuing understanding, and becoming paralysed by fear, and hence reading more news which drags us down mentally, is a difficult line to walk, and it's one I frequently struggle with.When this legacy media realised it was fading away, and when we entered the internet age, we found that this fear could be weaponised. Back in the age of societal hierarchy, fear was seen as a great thing for a tyrant king to possess to control those below him. In a democracy, it’s not so effective.

Photo by Megan Watson on

The idea that fear is the leading consideration in modern media today leads to misinformation and has fuelled this environment of hate that we see so many take part in today. It has especially fuelled this current period of rioting in the UK, so much so that the original issue of the horrific attack on a dance class in Southport is no longer being discussed. Like many other issues, it was weaponised to further a different cause. It’s this unforgivable attack that saw three young girls lose their lives. That should be the main narrative here.We have to carefully consider what we feed our brains when it comes to media. Feed it with hate, and untrustworthy drivel, and we’ll see ourselves become hateful.The world is full of good people and a small proportion of bad people. It always has been, and always will be. But in the face of unimaginable loss such as this one in the Southport attack, coming together will always beat the spreading of hate and violence.

Concluding Remarks

I often hold off on discussing issues as they occur. Afterwards, although the world of politics and geopolitics is moving quickly, getting a clearer view of an issue ensures I try my best to avoid contributing to this negative media cycle storm that controls media today.There are many global issues linked to this event and the riots after it. In the developed world, consumerism has us believe that more is better. We buy bigger houses and bigger cars. We want more, and we show it off on social media for others to feel envious, fuelling the spiral that more is better. If we get more likes on a picture of our new house, or new car, we feel validated, fuelling the spiral even more.The striving for more puts a strain on services and resources that are already strained. One day, we will reach a point where there is too little supply to fulfil demand. In my opinion, assessing our own roles in the rising demand for things we don’t truly need is vital. Let us control what we can control, and cast aside what we cannot.As I discussed recently, the quality of life in a country is a function of the energy available. If we don’t want to be sat in the cold and dark, this has to be baseload power or have sufficient energy storage capacity, which we yet don’t have. If we continue to believe more is better, we put a greater strain on energy production, and hence the quality of life is affected. Of course, botched government policy can further contribute to this issue, but as individuals, we need to look in the mirror and realise we can’t continue to strain scarce resources forever. In the developed world, do you truly need all that you have?

Photo by ZACHARY STAINES on

A small aside there, but the most important thing to take away s to remember how this entire sequence of events started; as a disgusting attack. In the face of such awful violence, it seems futile to think the world could be a better place; that it’s trending in the wrong direction.Think of those who attended the peaceful vigil for these three young girls, and who continue to support the families. Or those who invited protestors into their mosque offered them food and discussed issues with them. Or those who after riots in Southport, decided to wake up, and clean up the town, or rebuild walls. The news paints to world as a bad place, and this story of unforgivable violence is one such bad aspect of the world in which we live. It’s what we do next from this bad place that matters. It’s what we do from here that can work to address all these deep-rooted issues of today, such as knife crime and racism. Importantly, it’s what we have the potential to do together that we should pursue going forward, not what we can do despite one another.If you think I’m an optimist, I am. If you think I’m too optimistic, I also probably am. But, I’d rather spread support, love, and hope for a better future that works to address these issues together, than a future of hate and violence.

Other News In Geopolitics This Past Week

Thanks for reading! I’d greatly appreciate it if you were to like or share this post with others! If you want more then subscribe on Substack for these posts directly to your email inbox. I research history, geopolitics, and financial markets to understand the world and the people around us. If any of my work helps you be more prepared and ease your mind, that’s great. If you like what you read please share with others.

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