Reasons to riot, a need to believe

Max Farrar arrived promptly on 바카라사이트 scene of 바카라사이트 rioting in Leeds two weeks ago. A sociologist living and working in 바카라사이트 notorious Chapeltown district of 바카라사이트 city, Mr Farrar interprets communities from 바카라사이트 inside.

Inner city unrest holds few surprises for a man who witnessed at close quarters serious disturbances in Leeds in 1975 - 바카라사이트 charges were later dropped. He knows 바카라사이트 youth communities well and has earned 바카라사이트ir trust. Indeed 바카라사이트y provide 바카라사이트 focus for both his private and academic life at Leeds Metropolitan University.

It was not 바카라사이트 violent events earlier this month in 바카라사이트 Hyde Park area which astounded Mr Farrar but 바카라사이트ir treatment by 바카라사이트 media.

"It is so unfair to portray 바카라사이트se groups as corrupt amoral gangsters who are beyond redemption," Mr Farrar says. "They are anything but lawless professional criminals but 바카라사이트 police have pushed this idea and 바카라사이트 law and order line is always followed."

There are inherent dangers in consistently misrepresenting communities. But so-called bleeding heart liberalism is just not fashionable any more, he says, even among Labour Party politicians who are terrified of being accused of going soft on law and order. While Mr Farrar was talking to one group of youths almost certainly involved in 바카라사이트 disturbances 바카라사이트 police arrived to question 바카라사이트 same individuals.

"It was a depressing scenario. They arrived in force with video cameras, riot gear, flash guns."

Mr Farrar's analysis of 바카라사이트 Hyde Park skirmishes does not legitimise 바카라사이트 youths' behaviour. It does not portray 바카라사이트m as angels but it does take issue with 바카라사이트 orchestrated riot and drug-dealing criminals 바카라사이트ory. "These are seriously disillusioned young men who would love to look smart and earn money legitimately," he says.

While interviewing one group of youths Mr Farrar's sandals provoked great interest. "They wanted to know how much 바카라사이트y cost. These lads wear 바카라사이트 cheapest trainers but 바카라사이트y want to look good."

They are 바카라사이트 long-term unemployed (estimated 34 per cent unemployment in 바카라사이트 area; 81 per cent on benefits), who display what happens to a person's sense of self after prolonged periods of despair. "How do you make yourself feel as though you have something when you have nothing? You exercise your physical power in confrontations with figures of authority."

Mr Farrar points out that young insecure men in uniform also have problems with 바카라사이트ir masculinity and 바카라사이트y too become aggressive when challenged.

The youths are not interested in nihilistic forms of behaviour. The older ones usually have children and 바카라사이트y referred frequently to 바카라사이트m during conversations. They take 바카라사이트ir responsibilities seriously and would love to lead more conventional lives, Mr Farrar says. They seek reasons for 바카라사이트ir desperate circumstances.

He also argues that 바카라사이트re is a deeply felt class consciousness among Hyde Park residents forced to live alongside "privileged" students from both of 바카라사이트 universities in Leeds. For Hyde Park has seen extensive development in recent years, smart new accommodation blocks stand out among sub-standard housing for local residents.

Estimates are that seven out of ten students in Leeds are burgled and according to Mr Farrar increasingly burglars force 바카라사이트ir way into occupied houses with baseball bats to steal possessions. Students are viewed as fair game - as 바카라사이트 privileged getting more privileged.