Five months after they began, protests in Hong Kong show few signs of de-escalating beyond temporary lulls. Instead, the civil unrest is turning into a persistent cycle of protest followed by political gridlock followed by security actions and protester reactions that are becoming more extreme with time. This pattern is further dividing an already deeply wounded city and hardening the resolve of authorities in Hong Kong and Beijing and protesters. However this current period of protest ends -- via protesters easing their activities, political resolution or harder security crackdown -- the deep social divisions created by the unrest will take generations to overcome....
