Understanding the 2024 Riots
Through the Lens of
Internal Family Systems Therapy

Being a brown-skinned, British-born Asian Muslim woman, I have always connected
strongly to both my ethnic background and the varied, spirited society the UK stands
for. Still, the summer of 2024 broke the sense of security I have spent a lifetime fostering. While my family was away for a few days, on a hot August day, I discovered myself alone in my house surrounded by the mounting anxiety about the riots breaking out around the nation. Images of crime, damage, and rage permeated
the news, a fury that appeared to be aimed at individuals like me.

That evening, trapped away from the tumult outside, I sat in my living room with all the windows and doors carefully closed as the sun set and the heat persisted. The usually consoling quiet of my house felt stifling, interrupted only by the far-off sounds of disturbance in my neighbourhood. Overwhelming fear drove me to shake and almost cry as I talked to the police over the phone, so sorely wanting assurance that I was secure.

A friend, also a therapist, volunteered to bring over a baseball bat so I could defend
myself—a very out-of-character but well-meaning gesture that neatly summed up a crazy situation. It was 2024, yet it felt like a trip through time to an era of open hate and terror. The event served as a sobering reminder of how rapidly the fabric of our society may fall apart and how those of us who are typically considered as “others” might find ourselves targeted during crises.

This encounter caused me to consider closely the dynamics under action during these disturbances. Trained in Internal Family Systems (IFS), I started to view the events through the prism of this paradigm, spotting the several “parts” at work—not only within individuals but also throughout our society. What follows are my own views of the riots through an IFS lens.

Firefighters: The Rioters and Inciters

The Internal Family Systems (IFS) concept helps us to understand the violence that broke out during the 2024 riots, especially when it comes to the Firefighters. Firefighters are psychological components of IFS therapy that act aggressively to guard us against excessive suffering or discomfort. They intervene when the emotions held by the Exiles—those sensitive areas of ourselves harbouring our most profound scars—become intolerable. Firefighters typically act impulsively; their objective is instantaneous relief, usually achieved through diversion or aggressive, reactionary behaviour. Regarding the riots, the rioters themselves could be considered as society Firefighters. Underlying anxiety and resentment seething beneath the surface drove their destructive and violent behaviour. The catalyst was the false information that proliferated like wildfire on the internet, inflating racial tensions and focussing hate towards minority populations. This false information acted as a match, setting off the Firefighters inside these people to try to let their pent-up dread and wrath flow from them onto the street. Firefighters also included public personalities and social media influencers that encouraged or prolonged this upheaval. Whether deliberately or not, their aggressive speech stoked the fires, pushing others to act in ways that caused great damage even if they momentarily relieved their own anxieties or goals. One may consider far-right extremists who disseminate false information and Elon Musk, who made provocative remarks during this moment, as outside expressions of Firefighter elements. Though based on their own inner conflicts or convictions, their behaviour added to the chaotic and threatening surroundings.
This viewpoint clarifies for us the complex interaction of emotions the rioters were reacting to —including fear, wrath, and frustration. Although their acts might have been motivated by a need to communicate or alleviate these strong emotions, the means they choose were negative. These people were not only “thugs” or “criminals,”but their choices to use violence resulted in negative effects on themselves and their communities as well as on others. Though maybe providing a brief sensation of release or a feeling of control, the excessive actions committed during the riots finally resulted in more damage and extended a cycle of dread and turmoil.

Exiles: The Targeted Communities

Exiles in the Internal Family Systems (IFS) concept are the aspects of us that carry deep-seated trauma, guilt, and vulnerability. These parts are often hidden away, as they hold the emotional burdens that we find too overwhelming to confront directly. In the framework of the 2024 riots, the minority groups Black, Brown, and Muslim people especially—found themselves as society Exiles. Historically, these groups have carried the weight of systematic marginalisation, prejudice, and violence; the events of this summer helped these Exiled sections of society to once more take the stage. These neighbourhoods were pushed into a state of more vulnerability and anxiety as the riots developed. The false information and racist sentiments driving the upheaval simply helped to heighten their sense of isolation and peril. For many, the riots served as a stinging reminder of the long-standing prejudices and conflicts the
Exiles deal with daily in addition to a physical threat. Rooted in both past and present experiences of discrimination, this collective fear is like the emotional weight borne by Exiles in the IFS paradigm. For many in these neighbourhoods, the experience of being singled out during the riots probably triggered long-standing trauma and surfaced emotions of fear, powerlessness, and abandonment (legacy and transgenerational burdens).
As Exiles in the IFS model are sometimes locked away, out of sight and out of mind, so too are the hardships of these communities. Whether using allies’ assistance or additional marginalisation, the reaction to these crises can accentuate the suffering of the Exile or provide a road towards healing. This dynamic emphasises the continuous difficulties minority communities in the UK experience as well as the need to tackle these problems not only during crises but also as part of a more general, continuous commitment to social justice and equality.

Managers: The Police and Courts

Managers are the components in the Internal Family Systems (IFS) paradigm that help to preserve control and stop the suffering and anarchy that exiles and firefighters could expose. Their job is to maintain the system running as it should, usually by trying to minimise or control the more severe behaviour of other sections. Within the framework of the 2024 riots, police officials could be considered as playing the function of society managers. The police were assigned the challenging responsibility of restoring order and safeguarding vulnerable populations as the riots tore across the nation. Often under great pressure and criticism, their approach was defined by attempts to limit the violence and stop more damage.
The police sought to quell the anarchy unleashed by the Firefighters—the rioters—and safeguard the Exiles—targeted minority populations.

However, Managers in the IFS framework can sometimes be overwhelmed by the intensity of the situation this was, indeed, the case. The police faced significant challenges in managing the widespread unrest, and their actions were not without controversy.

The Self - Local Communities & Everyday People

Working to defuse conflicts and defend their areas, community leaders began to bolster the Self. Local groups set up in numerous places aimed to protect sensitive groups, offer factual information and combat the false information and fear-mongering driving the riots. For those who felt endangered, these community-led initiatives were vital in giving them a sense of safety and solidarity and preventing the situation from becoming any worse. Take Imam Adam Kelwick, who invited rioters into the mosque, or the pub-goers in Accrington who embraced members of the Asian community in a remarkable display of solidarity and cultural acceptance. As the days passed, it was this growing Self that inspired confidence amongst the silent majority to stand up and say “no” to the hate and violence. So-called counter-protestors began to greatly outnumber the rioters, who found their safety and anonymity in numbers emasculated.

Conclusion: A Path Forward

The 2024 riots served as a sobering reminder of the frailty of social peace and the ingrained anxieties and tragedies that can erupt during a crisis. Internal Family Systems (IFS) treatment helps us to see these events through a different prism, illuminating the intricate dynamics at work. This structure provides an understanding of the reasons behind the activities of several groups as well as direction on how we might proceed. As in IFS therapy, where the aim is to harmonise and repair the internal system, as a society we must endeavour to heal the divisions within. For those of us who personally went through these events, the uncertainty and anxiety might linger, but there is also a chance for introspection and personal development. Applying the ideas of IFS not only to our personal lives but also to our shared societal difficulties will help us to find a road towards recovery and peace.

The riots of 2024 were a wake-up call—one we cannot afford to overlook if we are to create a society more fair and caring for all.

If you have been affected by the unrest and violence this Summer, please contact us for support, including a list of mental health organisations and services for people of colour, migrants, refugees, asylum seekers and Muslim communities.

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Understanding the 2024 Riots Through the Lens of Internal Family Systems Therapy