# Why Konstantin Kisin thinks riot policing can trap leaders

Markdown copy of https://realalpha.app/s/why-konstantin-kisin-thinks-riot-policing-can-trap-leaders/ on Real Alpha, the best minutes from long interviews with the people building AI. Cite and link the page, not this copy.

- Speaker: [Konstantin Kisin](https://realalpha.app/people/konstantin-kisin/) (Host)
- Host: [Francis Foster](https://realalpha.app/people/francis-foster/)
- Show: TRIGGERnometry
- Episode: [France Riots - Are We Next? - Off The Fence](https://realalpha.app/v/7FbRRPIEXVA/), Oct 23, 2026
- Moment: 29:01 to 31:40 of the episode (3 min), playing on https://realalpha.app/s/why-konstantin-kisin-thinks-riot-policing-can-trap-leaders/; the episode from there: https://realalpha.app/v/7FbRRPIEXVA/?t=1741

## Quote

> “your own public don't want you to deal with this. They're so terrified of the **use of force** in this situation”
> — [Konstantin Kisin](https://realalpha.app/people/konstantin-kisin/) at [30:19](https://realalpha.app/v/7FbRRPIEXVA/?t=1819) · TRIGGERnometry

## Takeaways

1. He says forceful enforcement risks creating a new flashpoint.
2. He argues public resistance to police force can constrain leaders.
3. He sees a choice between leaving residents exposed and risking escalation.

## About this segment

Konstantin Kisin argues that leaders face a bind: restraint leaves residents exposed, while a police response could create a new flashpoint. He says public resistance to force narrows their options.

From “France Riots - Are We Next? - Off The Fence”, Oct 23, 2026. [Watch the full episode](https://realalpha.app/v/7FbRRPIEXVA/)

## Transcript

Transcribed by machine (Whisper) from the episode’s audio, so a word may be off here and there.

[29:07](https://realalpha.app/v/7FbRRPIEXVA/?t=1747) because let's be honest about why these protests have exploded in this way let's just be honest about this right francis is right and you're right when you say you know the fact that they've told people you are responsible for your own safety by the way in a country where you're not allowed to own firearms right the only force equalizer that people in the situation might have that's an abandonment of their responsibility and it's terrifying and it will have the political consequences that francis describes but what are they supposed to do let's say you are emmanuel macron a terrible thought experiment no doubt and you have a bunch of people rioting in the streets right significantly made up of ethnic minorities whatever you send them the police right there is a confrontation the police who are defending themselves but also who are trying to restore

[30:01](https://realalpha.app/v/7FbRRPIEXVA/?t=1801) order, will inevitably bash someone over the head, break someone's this, hit someone here, and there will probably be the occasional misuse of force because there always is in these situations. And now you've given them a BLM George Floyd type of moment. It will be on camera, someone will have been mistreated, they may have died, and now you've inflamed the riots even more because, and this is important, right, your own public don't want you to deal with this. They're so terrified of the use of force in this situation to put down this kind of rioting they were the ones who are going to get triggered by the fact that having been forced into a position where they're dealing with rioters the police have to use what will in some instances be excessive force and your own public are the ones that are going to turn away from you so what are you supposed to do

[30:50](https://realalpha.app/v/7FbRRPIEXVA/?t=1850) so this is exactly why i was i said i was so pessimistic because even if it was not macron even if you actually have a right-wing party who come in and try and deal with some of the problems i don't think i think the problems are too deep and endemic for them to be properly sorted which is why i do think we're going to see decades-long anarchy across western europe because i don't think the public even have the appetite for what could put the drastic radical things that need to be done to avoid serious civil conflicts i i i don't i no one's explained that to me so i think i think the the path to avoid that the peaceful path out of this is so narrow now i i can't quite