Elbow room

With gas prices wending skyward, Cow reflects on the history of social change. In Paris at the Place de Concord, and in other European capitals, large squares easily accommodate urban protests. In America, large cities have no central gathering places.

To what extent does architecture influence crowd behavior? In America, anti-globalization riots in Seattle were limited to streets.

Whereas, the Place de Concord afforded space for the guillotine to be erected and thousands of spectators.

Does modern American design intentionally limit protest? If urban design is a form of behavior modification, could it also be used to deter crime, promote recycling, or advance the cause of Topiary world domination?