[patcon]

I've heard complexity science folks entertain the premise that a riot (or any non-equilibrium social order) is perhaps like a phase transition in the social strata of complex matter (like how boiling or combustion is a phase transition in the physical, molecular strata of matter).

A forest isn't a forest if it's always on fire, but the system of the forest is often in equilibrium only when forests are swept with fire every so often. A similar logic might be part of a complete political theory.

[recursivedoubts]

I think that may be a false analogy.

Generally, in the modern state, I view riots as being allowed and/or managed by the ruling class for their benefit.

To quote banksy: "You are an acceptable level of threat and if you were not you would know about it."