Working for a new world order
By Mary Connolly
Review of Development - New Paradigms and Principles for the
Twenty-first century.
Promoting Development - Effective Global Institutions for the
Twenty-first Century
Both edited by Jo Marie Griesgraber and Bernhard G Gunter
Published by Pluto Press
At Sinn Féin's recent policy conference on community economic
development - Putting People First - an important observation was
that the wider context within which local community initiatives
take place was insufficiently recognised. This referred to the
overwhelming influence of external forces, in particular the
damaging role of transnational corporations and free trade. What
was being touched upon was, of course, the limits to local action
as a result of what has become known as `globalisation'.
This is not to suggest that local communities are powerless in
the face of global economic forces, but that the reality of the
global context within which we work need to be recognised and
strategies formulated to counteract its worst excesses. This is
easier said than done, of course, which is where these two recent
books are of some assistance.
Both edited volumes attempt successfully to get to grips with the
complex issues of development in the `Third World', the evolving
nature of the global economy and, most importantly, how the whole
nature of the `New World order' is designed to legitimise and
sustain largely US inspired neo-colonialism and neo-liberalism.
There are contributions from a wide range of countries and
perspectives, all with a keen radical or, at least, questioning
edge. Moreover, practical proposals are presented as to how the
international economic system could be fundamentally reformed if
we are even to begin to tackle the deep and endemic inequalities
inherent in current ideologies, structures and institutions.
The books will be heavy going for those not well versed in the
myriad of organisations and acronyms that pepper the development
world. However, they are as good a start as any for those who
wish to expand their understanding about how political, economic
and social inequalities between the Northern and Southern
hemispheres are maintained in the world today.
This may seem a long way from the efforts of local community
activists in Ireland, but it is the necessary backdrop if we are
to know where we stand in the wider world and how we might move
forward for the betterment of all, particularly our own
disadvantaged communities.
As the authors argue in their introduction, ``genuine development
is essentially a grassroots, bottom-up process, growing from the
base with local communities being key players...Decision-making
procedures in the development process must embody the principles
of participation, transparency, accountability and
sustainability.''
Other issues discussed are the need for empowerment of local
communities through effective and genuine partnerships, and the
imposition of unjust and damaging conditions on the recipients of
funds. These themes should be all too familiar to those working
in local communities in Ireland, highlighting the similarity of
the problems in the `Third World' and those nearer home.
What about the people's police?
Beyond the Politics of `Law and Order' - Towards community policing in Ireland
Pamphlet by Johnny Connolly
Published by CRD, 89b Glen Road, Belfast, BT11 8BD
Price £3/$6
If you and the people living on your street were made responsible
for policing tomorrow morning, what would you do? Who would you
use as police and what crimes would you target? It is putting
ideas like this into your head that is the achievement of this
informative and teasing addition to CRD's `Policing in a new
society' series.
The ownership and control of policing by the Irish people is so
remote from reality today that the idea of having a say in it is
in itself subversive.
But Johnny Connolly shows that self-policing and community
policing have been a constant presence in Irish history, often
existing side-by-side with the colonial law enforcement system.
A potted history of the `centralised, hierarchial and masculine'
model used in the RUC and the Garda shows up the colonial
anti-people origins of both forces.
The RUC was increasingly put in the front line of preserving the
colonial form of law and order that exists in the Six Counties,
and the pamphlet shows why the disbandment of the RUC has to be
taken up by anyone seriously attempting to resolve the conflict.
That the force is paramilitary (that is, aiding the military) is
one thing, but that it exists to prop up a state based on the
supremacy of unionists over nationalists is another.
But Connolly's pamphlet also shows the dangers of devising
alternative policing models which merely mimick the old.
He provides a clear context for the small percentage of
nationalist community policing caseloads which end in punishment
beatings but argues against them as self-defeating and
detrimental to community life.
The problems encountered by communities in Dublin looking for
Garda support in tackling drug dealing has exposed why policing
is as important an issue south of the border as it is north. At a
conference on a proposed community policing forum in Dublin's
north inner city last Saturday, the gap between the Garda view of
themselves and the communities' view of the Garda was widened by
the presence of a glib-talking head of Garda community relations
on the platform. As one community representative said at a later
workshop: ``If that guy represents what the Garda think this is
all about, then we're wasting our time - he thinks everything's
rosy in the garden''.
The notion of making the Garda accountable is already meeting
huge resistance, while the Special Branch are regarded as the
untouchables by politicians.
For anyone concerned with just who the police serve and how they
do it, the transformation of policing structures in Ireland is a
must. Johnny Connolly's booklet will set the mind wandering, but
its focus on the choice between a community and a law and order
model of policing keeps the central question facing Irish
policing in frame. It is a booklet crying out to be a book. It
will be widely read.
By Meadbh Gallagher.
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