During the Cold War every political event, even the most ephemeral, was granted some deeper, sinister meaning; it was all down to the International Communist Conspiracy. These neo-liberal days the powers that be try to render all events, even grand ones such as revolutions, as meaningless. What sparked the London riots? Not arrogant, corrupt policing. Not general political atrophy. Not low wages and unemployment, a lack of opportunity and a declining future. No.
It was social media, the mysterious cyber-Loki fanning enigmatic conflagrations from here to Cairo. Get ready for the 2012 bill banning the internet.
