'Great Britain has riots', say some social historians, 'while the Continent has revolutions'. Rioting has certainly played an important part in the development of our parliamentary democracy but was the summer violence of 1981 exceptional? Were there historical precedents? SIMON WINCHESTER investigates the role of the riot in Britain since the passing of the last Riot Act in 1714. He traces the different reasons why people have rioted and finds a strong underlying pattern in both the motive of the rioters and the reaction of government. But if there is a lesson from the past, have today's politicians learnt it?
