Civil Disturbance Management Commanders Must Know

Book excerpt: Research objectives are to enhance the understanding of social and psychological factors that incite, perpetuate, and enlarge civil unrest before and during civil disturbances, and to identify management techniques to be employed by the Army to counteract these social and psychological forces. Concentration is directed toward historical precedence for Federal intervention, the principles of collective behavior as applied to civil disorders, the social and psychological dynamics of American society which contribute to civil disturbances, the authority of a commander and his troops when ordered into a city to quell a riot, and the civil or criminal liability they may incur should they exceed their authority. Research methodology includes the study of individual and government research reports and an examination of academic documents containing current philosophies and doctrine.