This book presents the COVID-19 pandemic as an opportunity to re-assess the neoliberal politics, xenophobia, and racism that have undermined community cohesion in the United Kingdom since 1979, and will appeal to scholars and upper-level students of cultural studies, cultural history, sociology, and politics.

Sarah Lowndes is a writer, lecturer and curator. Research Fellow at Norwich University of the Arts, UK, her previous Routledge books include The DIY Movement in Art, Music and Publishing (2016) and Contemporary Artists Working Outside the City (2018).

List of Figures; Acknowledgments; Part I: Introduction; Introduction; 1. From the Welfare State to Virtual Congregations: British Crowds 1945-2019; Part II: The Case Studies; 2. Chinese New Year, 25-26 January 2020, London, England; 3. UEFA Champion's League Final, 11 March 2020, Liverpool, England; 4. VE Day, 8 May 2020, Various Locations, England; 5. Black Lives Matter Demonstrations, 7 June 2020, Various Locations Nationwide; 6. Eid ul-Adha, 31 July 2020, Leicester, England; 7. The New Normal: Cancelled Fireworks, Small Weddings and Socially Distanced Funerals; 8. Pandemic Demonstrations 2021: Taking the Knee, Sarah Everard, COP26, Kill the Bill and Anti-Vaxxers; Conclusion; Index