How can large protest crowds be better and more respectfully managed by police? This topical book applies the principles of community-based conflict resolution to the policing of large crowds, suggesting a completely new approach that moves away from the discourse of rabble-rousing mobs towards negotiated management, and a paradigm of mutual respect for protesters as principled dissenters and for police as non-repressive agents of public order. Both are needed, the authors argue, in order for democracy to flourish. Their conclusions are grounded both in practical experience of bringing protesters and police together and in a historical and conceptual analysis of protest, crowds and public order policing.

"Foreword by Archbishop Desmond Tutu" -- Cover.

What is at stake? -- Introducing protest crowds -- Emotions: the fuel of violence -- Introducing police -- The violence of 'otherness': scapegoating and hegemonic structures -- Introducing targets, bystanders, and media -- Reciprocal violence -- Mutual blessing -- Towards a mutual respect paradigm of protester - police dynamics -- Protest crowds and police in the context of democracy -- 'Getting the dialogue started': crowd management and conflict resolution - a case study -- Hearing from the players -- Practical suggestions for community-based initiatives.