| Abstract [eng] |
The subtleties of crowd formation and management are some of the most crucial elements in determining the course and end of the mass gathering. In Lithuania and the world alike, there are constant mass gatherings of all sorts, some of which are of political nature. People displeased by the government’s actions or supporters of specific political views carry out protests to state their views. At times, mass gatherings intensify and develop instances of uncivilized behavior or even outbursts of violence. To prevent such outbursts, it is crucial to understand the features of crowd formation and conduct. In this paper, they are determined by applying existing theoretical models and comparing the violent protests in Washington and Vilnius, as well as the connections between the crowd and the government representatives that influence it. The thesis aims to compare the two aforementioned cases and analyze the connection between the crowd and the people of the governing body, and present recommendations for future mass gatherings. The objectives are to identify the features of crowd mentality and conduct in Vilnius and Washington protests based on the existing theoretical models and to analyze how they are expressed in both cases; to evaluate the actions of the government and its authorized people and determine the sufficiency/deficiency of their influence on crowd formation and conduct; to compare the life cycle of crowds (Hexmoor, 2012) in Vilnius and Washington; to present recommendations for future mass gatherings based on the crowd formation and management in the two cases. The thesis has identified how the methods presented by Le Bon (1895) and Neville & Richter (2018) are showcased in protests in Vilnius and Washington. It has also stated how the actions of the government and its authorized people influenced crowd formation and conduct in these two crowds. Moreover, it compared the life cycle of crowds (Hexmoor, 2012) in both cases and presented recommendations for future mass gatherings based on the findings. In order to fulfill the objectives, the methods of qualitative research, case study, comparative case studies, and sociometry were used. |
