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.