This paper reviews key recent research on the inequality and social cohesion, to provide an understanding of the causes of the 2011 riots in the UK. It explains how all of the issues identified the Government-commissioned Riots, Communities and Victims Panel – children and parents, personal resilience, hopes and dreams, brands, usual suspects [criminality], police and the public and community engagement – are powerfully affected by inequality.
In the light of this, it argues that the key issues identified by the Government-commissioned Panel can be addressed by a fundamental shift in society: a reduction in inequality in the United Kingdom.