In a comparative study drawing on material from the United States and Britain, this book, first published in 1992, examines how various types of industrial, political, urban and sectarian disorder occur. It presents the 'flashpoints' model to explain public disorder.

1. The Anatomy of a Riot: the 'Battle of Trafalgar' 2. Disorderly Demonstrations 3. The American Urban Riots 4. The British Urban Riots 5. Strike Violence 6. Football Hooliganism 7. The 'Troubles' in Northern Ireland 8. Media Representations of Public Disorder 9. Contemporary Policing and its Democratic Control 10. Conclusions