Introduction

Abstract

Before the July 2005 G8 summit at Gleneagles, the Scottish media was awash with warnings of impending anarchist chaos. Determined to avoid another Genoa, the police force mounted one of its largest security operations in modern British history. They were particularly concerned with the rabble-rousing anarchists, suspected of plotting widespread disruption to the summit and elsewhere. In particular, security was trained on the ‘notorious’ Black Bloc who had clashed with police — and shopfronts — in past anti-globalization events. The Clandestine Insurgent Rebel Clown Army (CIRCA) — police harassment by tickling — and the anarchist People’s Golfing Association (PGA) — police harassment by golfing — probably outnumbered Black Bloc type protesters. Yet police and media focus was set on the latter. Widespread reports of violent clashes between police and various anarchist groups outside the summit did eventually emerge. As it turned out, Bob Geldolf’s 200,000 strong Make Poverty History march in Edinburgh snatched most of the attention. But all such news was swept aside in the wake of the London underground bombings at the beginning of the summit. In this light, anarchist posturing seemed even more petulant.