Citation

Martin DD. Humanity Soc. 2018; 42(3): 297-324.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2018, Association for Humanist Sociology, Publisher SAGE Publishing)

DOI

10.1177/0160597617741337

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

Drawing upon qualitative data gathered during protests at the 2008 Republican National Convention, secondary sources of Black Lives Matter, and Trump and anti-Trump rallies, I examine the collective interests, ideology, and role performances of a seldom studied group involved in demonstrations--"peacekeepers." My findings suggest that as members of this group attempt to create a peaceful order between police and protesters on the street, their activities are marked by a unique set of contradictions. These contradictions emerge as a result of two primary roles--those of crisis workers and "human involvement shields"--performed by peacekeepers, as they attempt to build and leverage credibility with both protesters and police. I theorize this process by outlining phases of interaction--milling, miming, and crossing--between peacekeepers and these groups once peacekeepers are out on the street.

Language: en