Military Protests: A Case Study

In the event that heavy-handed disproportionate actions and excessive use of force are used in the quelling of riots, there will be a very different outcome. The second order effects remain the same, in that the rioters will cease their lawless activities (temporarily). However, perceived and actual brutality against rioters and protesters will turn public sentiment against law enforcement and the members of the military and will increase membership in protester groups. Being that these protests stem primarily from perceived injustices committed by agents of the government, any perceived injustices committed as a response to such protests will only reinforce the ideologies that fuel the protests. Furthermore, the more unbalanced and fringe advocates of these groups may be
In the event that the response is proportionate and using the lowest levels of force, it is likely that the criminality will be shortly curtailed and the rights of peaceful protestors’ rights will not be violated. While protests may continue for several months, eventually the proportionate and effective response will negate the very reasons for the protests. If the protestors are protesting the excessive and unjust use of force by authorities, the continued demonstration of restraint by the authorities will eliminate the cause that the protestors are rallying behind.

In the event that excessive force is used against rioters, the short term effects will be the immediate cessation of criminal activity, followed by a rise in protests and riots of greater severity. A heavy-handed excessive response to the riots adds credibility to their original grievances. The long term effects of such a scenario are that these justified feelings of distrust and fear of governmental entities (whether law enforcement or military) will be passed on to