The shocking death of George Floyd in south Minneapolis last week has sparked an ongoing wave of mobilisation and disorder in American cities. Beginning with protests against police brutality, this mobilisation has escalated into arson, looting and violence across the country.

The scale and scope of the unrest has some commentators asking whether our cities, or even political system and social fabric, are in irretrievable crisis. The trajectory of today’s contention depends on the faith that Americans have in the democratic rules of the game that govern our politics.