Ja. Goldstone et B. Useem, Prison riots as microrevolutions: An extension of state-centered theories of revolution, AM J SOCIOL, 104(4), 1999, pp. 985-1029
Prisons have long been used as a testing ground for social theory. This art
icle explores the applicability of state-centered theories of revolution to
the phenomena of prison riots. Prison riots are found to have numerous fea
tures in common with revolutions, including prior administrative crises, el
ite (guard) alienation and divisions, and a widespread popular (prisoner) s
ense of injustice and grievances regarding (prison) administration actions
(not just toward imprisonment per se). The state-centered theory provides a
better "fit" to prison riots than current functionalist, rising expectatio
n, or management theories.