Paul Mason
An update to this British journalist's original book looking at the 20 reasons driving the protests following the recent global banking collapse and subsequent recession. The book focuses on the use of technology and social networks by the protesters and how it's made their protests different to previous ones. It concentrates on the non-hierarchical and spontaneous nature of protests and how people, mainly youth, are disillusioned with establishment bodies including trade unions. Scope is from Egypt to Wall Street encompassing inner city riots, squatting of farms through to the Occupy square take overs. There is comparison with previous protests going back to the French revolution and those of 1848 and then the 1930s recession. Analysis is given on the similarities and differences which I won't try to replicate here. It's a really well written book with a good mix of personal stories, the guy is a journalist after all, and theoretical and practical analysis going way back. There is some attempt to predict the future but as Paul says this may or may not happen as he thinks it may. There could be more analysis of why technology may help these horizontal or non hierarchical protests succeed where many others have failed with out the backing, or forming, of hierarchical and formal groups. To my mind simply having the ability to bring people together across the world virtually and quickly to camps and protests for short periods won't necessarily replace the world order. Maybe the point is that it has such a reach in such a short timescale (seconds) that more people are influenced than could ever be before. The question of whether many protesters are temporary and the premise that much of this is economically led leads me to wonder whether the enthusiasm for change will continue if the economy picks up. Paul doesn't pretend to have the answers for these questions. This book was published a couple of years ago and it's references to the rise of Islam has missed the major part currently played by the Islam State. Another interesting angle is the place of journalism and media groups when so much real time non-edited and seemingly raw information is instantly available and streamed. A very interesting book and well written. Worth reading.
