VIOLENCE, INSTITUTIONS AND COMMUNITIES IN NORTHERN IRELAND (FROM VIOLENCE AND THE SOCIAL SERVICES IN NORTHERN IRELAND, 1978, BY JOHN DARBY AND ARTHUR WILLIAMSON - SEE NCJ-56136)

• NCJ Number: 56137
• Author(s): J DARBY; A WILLIAMSON
• Date Published: 1978
• Length: 17 pages
• Corporate Author: Heinemann Educational Books, Inc
• Publication Format: Document
• Language: English
• Country: United Kingdom

Annotation

THE NATURE OF THE CRISIS IN NORTHERN IRELAND IS EXAMINED AND PRINCIPLES OF OPERATION FOR SOCIAL SERVICE AGENCIES TO FOLLOW IN SUCH A CRISIS ARE DISCUSSED.

Abstract

COMPONENTS OF A MODEL FOR UNDERSTANDING THE CIRCUMSTANCES IN NORTHERN IRELAND ARE AS FOLLOWS: (1) BACKGROUND, CONSISTING OF THE CONTINUOUS PRESENCE OF A POTENTIAL FOR VIOLENCE, PRIOR HEIGHTENING OF TENSION, AND A CATALYTIC HAPPENING WHICH PRECIPITATES AN EMERGENCY; (2) IMPACT, CONSISTING OF DIRECT VIOLENCE WHICH AFFECTS AREAS AND REFUGEES COMING TO NEW AREAS FROM VIOLENT AREAS; (3) RESPONSES, CONSISTING OF IMMEDIATE RESPONSE BY AFFECTED COMMUNITIES AND A DELAYED RESPONSE BY AGENCIES; AND (4) AFTERMATH, CONSISTING OF SOCIAL RECOVERY AND RETURN TO POLITICAL INSTABILITY AND POTENTIAL FOR VIOLENCE. IT IS TO BE OBSERVED FROM THE MODEL THAT THE CITIZENS AND SERVING AGENCIES OF NORTHERN IRELAND LIVE WITH CYCLES OF EMERGENCIES WHOSE TIMING RESTS ON UNPREDICTABLE CATALYTIC EVENTS. IT IS IN RELATION TO THE EFFECTS OF EMERGENCIES THAT NORTHERN IRELAND'S EXPERIENCE OF VIOLENCE HAS MOST RELEVANCE TO OTHER COUNTRIES. WHILE IT IS NOT POSSIBLE TO DEVISE PRECISE CONTINGENCY PLANS FOR MEETING SOCIAL PROBLEMS DURING EMERGENCIES, A NUMBER OF GENERAL GUIDELINES ARE APPARENT: (1) CONCENTRATE ON DEVELOPING EMERGENCY PLANS FOR 'HIGH RISK' AREAS; (2) CONCENTRATE ON PROVIDING INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES WITH FOOD, SHELTER, AND TRANSPORT IN TIME OF EMERGENCY; AND (3) ACCOMPLISH OBJECTIVES THROUGH COMMUNITY-BASED CONTACTS. AN APPROPRIATE STRATEGY WOULD INCLUDE DECENTRALIZATION OF EMERGENCY SUPPLY DEPOTS TO REDUCE ACCESS TIME AND IDENTIFICATION OF PARTICULARLY VULNERABLE AREAS TO ESTABLISH A PRIORITY OF EXECUTIVE POWER FOR THEM. GENERALLY, THE SOCIAL SERVICE AGENCIES IN NORTHERN IRELAND HAVE BEEN RELUCTANT TO ABANDON THEIR TRADITIONAL ROLES IN THE INTEREST OF BEING MORE EFFECTIVE IN THE EMERGENCY CIRCUMSTANCES THAT PREVAIL. THE NEED FOR AN ORGANIZATION, SUCH AS THE CIVIL DEFENSE IN THE UNITED STATES, TO ASSUME STATUTORY RESPONSIBILITY FOR DECLARING A STATE OF EMERGENCY AND ASSUMING EXECUTIVE POWERS FOR THE COORDINATION OF SERVICES IS EVIDENT. THERE IS HOWEVER, AN UNWILLINGNESS ON THE PART OF MANY SOCIAL AGENCIES TO SUBMIT TO THE POWER OF ANOTHER ORGANIZATION. (RCB)