Rebels with a cause, folk devils without a panic: press jingoism, policing tactics and anti-capitalist protests in London and Prague

Donson, Fiona; Chesters, Graeme; Welsh, Ian; Tickle, Andrew

Rebels with a cause, folk devils without a panic: press jingoism, policing tactics and anti-capitalist protests in London and Prague

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4681.pdf(302.68 KB)

Published version

Date

2004-01

Authors

Donson, Fiona

Chesters, Graeme

Welsh, Ian

Tickle, Andrew

Publisher

New University Press (NUP), flashmousepublishing ltd.

Abstract

This paper examines whether anti-capitalist political activists are (mis)constructed as ‘folk devils’, through an examination of media coverage in the UK and Czech Republic. The construction, of such protestors, as violent criminals and dangerous ‘anarchists’ has, it is argued, influenced their treatment at protests by public authorities in London and Prague. The paper also offers, in juxtaposition to this representation of the current anti-capitalism movement, a discussion of the accounts of activists themselves. In particular it examines the activists’ own perceptions of their engagement in the global social movement against capitalism. The paper is based on evidence drawn from the preliminary findings of interdisciplinary research into global social movements, and in particular the protests against the International Monetary Fund and World Bank in Prague in September 2000.

Keywords

Political activists , Anti-capitalism movement , Media coverage , Social movements , Global social movements , Protests , Criminal justice systems

Citation

Donson, F., Chesters, G., Tickle, A., and Welsh, I. (2004) 'Rebels With A Cause, Folk Devils Without a Panic: Press Jingoism, Policing Tactics and anti-capitalist protests in London & Prague'. Internet Journal of Criminology, Available at https://docs.wixstatic.com/ugd/b93dd4_18531dcd476e43aebcfc4086bf694be4.pdf