Force and Foresight: Merging ESIM With Classical Policing Models For Protest Management
Abstract
The U.S. has experienced a resurgence of public protests, a trend likely to intensify with the 2024presidential election. This research examines the complexity of managing such events, addressing the distinctions between demonstrations, protests, and riots, and the limitations of current police responses. The research explores three primary crowd control models: command and control, negotiated management, and elaborated social identity model (ESIM). The models are compared to highlight their influence on crowd behavior, ability to predict violence, respect for human rights, and inherent limitations. An analysis of three protest movements and events Black Lives Matter, Occupy Wall Street, and the Women's March tests these models to determine their effectiveness and relevance. The analysis shows that while command and control offers police an immediate response, it may contribute to violence. While negotiated management fosters dialogue, it struggles with groups lacking formal leadership or refusing to cooperate with police. TheESIM stands out for its insight into crowd psychology but requires extensive analytical capabilities and training. The research indicates that a one size fits all strategy to protest management is ineffective and that police should use a composite model to manage dynamic protests more effectively. The study concludes that police must recognize the unique characteristics of each protest to ensure public safety while upholding constitutional rights.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Dec 01, 2023
- Accession Number
- AD1225621
Entities
People
- Bryan J. Thueson
Organizations
- Naval Postgraduate School