Monday, December 13, 2010

When It Goes Off

This short story talks about fans from rivaling teams and how they went from a pub setting to the street setting. In the end, the thing that Robert and many others were waiting for to happen, being a riot, never happened. All that kept them in line were actual lines on the sidewalks.
Smelser's 6 Factors:
1. Structural Conductiveness- The pub crowd was "programmed" to have a rivalry
2. Structural Strain- The limited space in the pub followed by the killing of a man, as well as the pressure to attact the "other side"
3. Generalized Belief- Protect the honor of the teams at all costs
4. Precipitating Factor- A riot does not break out when authorative figures are present
5. Mobilization- Belief of murder as well as "going with the crowd"
6. Inadequate Social Control- Although there were authorative figures present, they appeared to be terrified of what might happen, so if the police is insecure, what does that say to the soccer fanatics?

1 comment:

  1. Your mobilization may fit better with precipitating factor instead. I agree with you that if the police were scared, what does that mean for social order?

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