Troubles, partnerships and possibilities: a study of the making Belfast work development initiative in Northern Ireland
By: Hodgeti, Susan.
Contributor(s): Johnson, David.
Material type:
ArticlePublisher: 2001Description: p.323-32.Subject(s): Community development - Northern Ireland | Community development
In:
Public Administration and DevelopmentSummary: This article examines the theory and operation of development partnerships through an analytical study of the Making Belfast Work (MBW) Initiative in Northern Ireland. This initiative of the Northern Ireland Department of the Environment contributed to the building of the current Northern Irish Peace Process. It illustrates the difficulties faced by a government in engaging in socio-economic development in one of the world's most difficult policy environments. The history of the MBW initiative also provides insight into the interaction of two contending models for organizing European Society, namely `Regulated Capitalism' and `Neoliberalism' and the relationship of these models to partnership theory. This study argues that motivations for the development of partnerships in Belfast defy easy theoretical classification; yet empirical evidence suggests that a twin-track approach - one from above, the European Union; and one from below, of indigenous policy evolution - have together through policy diffusion made MBW a leading pioneer in partnership theory and practice. The article discusses the literature on partnership within New Public Administration outlining ideas on various classifications of partnerships operative in the public sector. Particular attention is paid to how partnerships of societal actors and government can effectively involve the local community through community development approaches. - Reproduced
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Articles
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Indian Institute of Public Administration | Volume no: 21, Issue no: 4 | Available | AR51224 |
This article examines the theory and operation of development partnerships through an analytical study of the Making Belfast Work (MBW) Initiative in Northern Ireland. This initiative of the Northern Ireland Department of the Environment contributed to the building of the current Northern Irish Peace Process. It illustrates the difficulties faced by a government in engaging in socio-economic development in one of the world's most difficult policy environments. The history of the MBW initiative also provides insight into the interaction of two contending models for organizing European Society, namely `Regulated Capitalism' and `Neoliberalism' and the relationship of these models to partnership theory. This study argues that motivations for the development of partnerships in Belfast defy easy theoretical classification; yet empirical evidence suggests that a twin-track approach - one from above, the European Union; and one from below, of indigenous policy evolution - have together through policy diffusion made MBW a leading pioneer in partnership theory and practice. The article discusses the literature on partnership within New Public Administration outlining ideas on various classifications of partnerships operative in the public sector. Particular attention is paid to how partnerships of societal actors and government can effectively involve the local community through community development approaches. - Reproduced
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