Re-reading the England Riots

A Psychoanalytic Study of the Explanations of the Riots

Master's Thesis , 2013 , 59 Pages , Grade: B

Psychology - Social Psychology

The explanations of what caused the England riots in 2011 are many. Numerous commentators, politicians and reports tried to make sense of the four days in August 2011 that caused widespread disorder in London and other cities. Although there are both insightful and some less insightful descriptions of its causes, the problem this study identifies and addresses is the absence of a politicisation of the riots.
Whilst the study asks how the explanations function in order to appear apolitical, the task of examining this is undertaken with psychoanalytic theory. In order to conduct such a study the ideas of Slavoj Žižek are drawn upon to develop a theoretical framework and method. Herein the explanations pointing out criminality, moral decline, dysfunctional families and inequality as the causes are analysed to show what must be suppressed in order to steer the causes away from politics.

Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)

• INTRODUCTION
• RESEARCH OBJECTIVES
• DISPOSITION
• LITERATURE REVIEW
• THEORETICAL APPROACH
• THE SUBJECT IN LACANIAN PSYCHOANALYSIS
• THE DISCURSIVE OEDIPUS COMPLEX
• TRANSGRESSION AND LAW, THE OTHER AND ENJOYMENT
• THE REAL
• SYMBOLIC AUTHORITY OR GENERALISED PERVERSION
• RESEARCH STRATEGY
• METHODOLOGICAL APPROACH
• EPISTEMOLOGY AND ONTOLOGY IN PSYCHOANALYTIC THEORY
• MY ROLE AS RESEARCHER
• MATERIAL AND DATA COLLECTION METHOD
• RESEARCH METHOD
• THE ABSTRACT AND CONCRETE UNIVERSAL
• DISCURSIVE STRATEGIES
• DISCUSSION
• CRIMINALITY
• THE PROMISE OF WHOLENESS AND DISAVOWAL
• EXTERNAL ANTAGONISM
• MORAL DECLINE
• THE PROMISE OF WHOLENESS AND DISAVOWAL
• EXTERNAL ANTAGONISM
• THE PATERNAL CRISES
• THE PROMISE OF WHOLENESS AND DISAVOWAL
• EXTERNAL ANTAGONISM
• INEQUALITY
• THE PROMISE OF WHOLENESS AND DISAVOWAL
• EXTERNAL ANTAGONISM

Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)

This study aims to critically examine the explanations surrounding the 2011 England riots, focusing on how they downplay the political dimensions of the events. The study seeks to problematize the presentation of the riots as largely apolitical in terms of causes, responses, and solutions. The primary research question guiding the study is: "How do the explanations function in order to present an essentially apolitical understanding of the riots?". The study employs psychoanalytic theory, specifically the ideas of Slavoj Žižek, to develop a theoretical framework for analyzing the explanations.

• The apolitical presentation of the riots
• The function of explanations in obscuring political dimensions
• The application of psychoanalytic theory to contemporary social phenomena
• The role of discourse and affect in shaping societal understanding
• The disavowal of political explanations in favor of apolitical ones

Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)

This section will provide summaries of the chapters focusing on the main themes, arguments, or narrative elements of each chapter. * **Introduction:** This chapter sets the stage by describing the 2011 England riots and highlighting the prevalence of apolitical explanations for the events. It argues that while various explanations exist, they fail to adequately address the political dimensions of the riots. The chapter introduces the study's research question and objectives, highlighting the need for a theoretical framework to analyze the explanations. * **Theoretical Approach:** This chapter delves into the theoretical framework utilized in the study, drawing upon Lacanian psychoanalysis and the ideas of Slavoj Žižek. It explores the concept of the subject in Lacanian psychoanalysis, the discursive Oedipus complex, transgression and law, the Other and enjoyment, and the concept of the Real. * **Research Strategy:** This chapter details the methodological approach employed in the study. It discusses the epistemology and ontology of psychoanalytic theory, the researcher's role, the materials and data collection methods, and the specific research methods, including the concepts of the abstract and concrete universal and discursive strategies. * **Discussion:** This chapter focuses on discussing the four major explanations of the riots: criminality, moral decline, the paternal crises, and inequality. Each section analyzes how these explanations function to obscure the political dimensions of the riots. This includes exploring the disavowal of political dimensions and how the explanations shift the focus from political to apolitical explanations.

Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)

This study focuses on analyzing the political dimensions of the 2011 England riots. It employs psychoanalytic theory, specifically the ideas of Slavoj Žižek, to understand how explanations of the riots function to downplay political factors. Key concepts include psychoanalytic theory, discourse analysis, the Other, enjoyment, disavowal, and the political dimension of social events.

• College: Lund University
• Course: Political Psychology & Psychoanalytic Theory
• Grade: B
• Author: Benny Ekvall (Author)
• Publication Year: 2013
• Pages: 59
• Catalog Number: V271159
• ISBN (eBook): 9783656632597
• ISBN (Book): 9783656692652
• Language: English
• Tags: re-reading, england, riots, psychoanalytic, study, explanations