INTRODUCTION
Today the modern world is dealing with a number of serious issues all across the globe, like warfare, terrorism and civil and social unrest. This is currently the case in the United States. There has always been debate and protest among the diverse people of America, but that has seemed to increase over the last few years. There has been a great deal of political and ethical based arguments that are heatedly debated, from political, religious and societal levels. Most recently some of these issues are related to police violence, racial divides, women’s rights and the recent Presidential election. These debates have led to a number of public protests. Unfortunately, too many of these protests devolved in something much more dangerous and destructive, full blown riots. This is a serious modern problem that needs to understood and properly addressed. Sociology is dedicated to the study of societies and the people in them, it focuses on how it structure, functions and how it develops over time. There have been many different schools of thought and theories that have been developed to explain human society. In the case of such events, like the protests that turned to riots as occurred in Portland, Oregon, in November of 2016, there are certain sociological theories that contribute to understanding such events, as explained in an objective BBC News report. After reviewing the relevant information there are four theories that are most beneficial in approaching this kind of event include conflict theory, social control theory, strain theory and social stratification
BACKGROUND
Protest is an important part of a democratic society. Peaceful protest is one of those inalienable rights that citizens of the United States are entitled to. However, when that protest becomes violent and becomes a riot, then not only are laws being broken, people being injured and property being destroyed then it ceases to be a protest and becomes criminal (Sternheimer, 2012). All too often, this happens more and more with protests all across the country. One of these events occurred in Portland Oregon. In November of 2016 there were protests occurring in New York, Los Angeles, Washington D.C. and Portland. The latter was not the largest, but it did bring in many protestors. Many protesters were arguing for immigration rights and political dissatisfaction with the outcome of the Presidential election. 4,000 demonstrators gathered with the intention of "peaceful" protest, after all their state had voted for Hillary Clinton and they were dissatisfied that Trump won the election; arguing that he is against everything that they believe in (BBC News, 2016). It did not take long for the protest to turn violent. Firecrackers were set off, cars had windows smashed in and trash cans were set on fire. There were even gunshots reported. People were injured and a number of arrests took place (Solis & Miller, 2016). This protest and many of the protests continuing in places across the country keep becoming violent. Why do these protests become violent? What does sociological theory explain about these negative phenomena?
DISCUSSION
This discussion is not about choosing sides in regards to the issues at hand, but about addressing the issues of violence and rioting in the current era; it may have very much to do with those who have power and those who feel powerless (Van Stekelenburg & Klandermans, 2010). Looking at the event from a sociological perspective there are, again, theories that can help answer the aforementioned questions. However, to understand their relationships better it is best to discuss them individually.
Conflict Theory: Conflict theory was supported by Karl Marx and argues that society is always in a state of conflict due to competition of resources and status. It explains that society is not formed from consensus and conformity, but is more so a product of power and the ability to dominate (Crossman & Cole, 2016). When looking at many of the protests it is clear that many are representing people who feel that they lack opportunity in the modern era, like the poor, the undereducated and many minorities. Generally speaking these individuals would be at a disadvantage to people with more money and power. This acknowledges why people protest and why they feel so passionately about why they are protesting. This unending conflict can be like a bomb with a long fuse, eventually it is going to explode, and when it does it can take a peaceful protest and turn it into a riot.
Social Control Theory: Social control theory argues that that relationships, values, traditions and societal "norms" are encouraged and deviation from those norms is highly discouraged (Kendall, 2014). If these boundaries were not established or individuals no longer perceive themselves as part of the bigger cultural picture it may be easier for them to fight against the norms and deviate from what is acceptable. This is something that is likely happening among many of the protestors turned rioters. They are already feeling under-represented and believe that their needs, wants and desires are not being addressed (Solis & Miller, 2016).
Strain Theory: Strain theory was introduced in the late 1950s, it argues that societies put a great deal of pressure on individuals to achieve and meet certain expectations. Modern society encourages people to succeed via their educations, jobs the hold, income they make and, all too often, what they own. However, when despite genuine effort, someone cannot meet those expectations through the traditional means then some may turn to negative means to get what they want they may turn to unorthodox method, like crime, to achieve it (Crossman & Cole, 2016). In the case of the Portland riots and others like it, they felt that getting what they want through traditional means has failed. This makes it easier for individuals to turn to violent outbursts, destructive and illegal alternatives to make their point.
Social Stratification: Social stratification refers to the ranking of different people into a social hierarchy. Some people fit in to the status of wealthy, powerful and important, while others would be ranked lower on the scale (Kendall, 2014). Essentially, as mentioned in Conflict Theory, it places people at odds with another by nature. When people start to figure out that they are low on the hierarchy, they may become dissatisfied with their place on that hierarchy and less afraid to speak out and say so. This, no doubt, is a huge part of why people protest in the first place. However, when that stratification becomes so extreme and divisive it is not really surprising that people would have no problem falling in line with the crowd mentality and even going to the extreme of violence and rioting to express their anger and dissatisfaction (Sternheimer, 2012).
CONCLUSION
In the case of the rioting, like the incidents in Portland, there are some people who are not inclined to turn to violence but wish to simply peacefully protest. There are others who go with the hope and intention of seeing a protest become violent because it is an opportunity to damage and loot as they see fit, regardless of the actual purpose of the original protest. Finally, all too commonly, the people who begin the violence and rioting influence those in the crowd, even encourage them into doing things that they would not normally consider doing under any other circumstances. People, even in a crowd, may have different ideas and attitudes, there is generally no control factors established among the protestors, people may share an interest in the topic being protested but many may react and behave differently. Having reasons to protest and perceived good reason to riot does not make it just. Riots place innocent people in danger, threatens public property and poses a problem in regards to crowd management. Portland and places throughout the United States where riots have broken out has led to overturned police cars, people being pulled out of their vehicles, building set on fire, local businesses destroyed, beatings and shootings. Clearly there are social issues that need to be heard and addressed, but in the meantime rioting is not the ideal answer to civil unrest. The important issues that the protest initially represented gets lost when the gatherings turn to violence; it will not lead to conversation, compromise and positive change where warranted.
REFERENCES
Crossman, A. and Cole, N.L. (2016). Major Sociological Theories. About Education. 1-10.
Retrieved January 25, 2016, from http://sociology.about.com/od/Sociology101/tp/Major-Sociological-Frameworks.htm
Kendall, D. (2014). Sociology in Our Times. 10th Edition. Engage learning. 1-720
Solis, S. and Miller, R. (2016). Anti-trump protest in Portland, Oregon, devolves into riot. USA
Today. 1. Retrieved January 25, 2017, from http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation-now/2016/11/13/anti-trump-protest-portland-devolves-into-riot/93760244/
Sternheimer, K. (2012).Civil unrest, riots and rebellions: What's the difference. Everyday
Sociology. 1. Retrieved January 25, 2017 http://www.everydaysociologyblog.com/2012/05/civil-unrest-riots-and-rebellions-whats-the-difference.html
Van Stekelenburg, J and Klandermans. (2010). The social psychology of protest. University of
Surrey. 1-13.
British Broadcasting Corporation. (2016). Trump presidency: Protest turn violent in Portland,
Oregon. BBC. 1. Retrieved January 26, 2017, from http://www.bbc.com/news/election-us-2016-37946231
