Football hooliganism and a spate of riots in Brixton, Toxteth, Moss Side, Southall, Wandsworth and very recently Handsworth and the unrest on union picket lines has reawakened interest in crowd behaviour. The chaos of mob violence and the sway of orators over crowds, when individual judgement is momentarily submerged in shared powerful emotions, have affected most ages. Savonorola in Florence, Robspierre in Paris and Hitler in Nazi Germany exemplify the inordinate influence of a charismatic figure; in the last two instances during times of immense social upheaval. Common factors can be discerned in these situations.
This paper was submitted in May 1985 and drafts circulated. Subsequent events and legislation focused on football matches has incorporated some of the suggestions contained herein.
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