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Unpacking the Rapid Dominance Syndrome of U.S. Police
A Stanford professor explains why the biggest bullies are often secretly weak
When faced with an angry, chanting mob, the police and government leaders must choose how to use the power they have to achieve outcomes that protect the public interest. One option is to power up, advertise their strength, put the police in riot gear, call in the military, and demonstrate a clear willingness to use force to keep crowds under control. The other is to power down, take off the armor, even take a knee, to show compassion for the protestors, and to demonstrate that although the people with the guns could use force to deal with an uprising, they do not intend to.
Ever since May 25, when George Floyd was asphyxiated beneath the knee of a police officer, cities across the country and the globe have played host to large — and largely peaceful — demonstrations protesting racial injustice at the hands of society’s power-holders. More recently, we have witnessed leaders experimenting with power-up or power-down options with what…
