Hostname: page-component-76fb5796d-2lccl Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-04-25T10:29:30.875Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Ideology, Conflict and Social Policy

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  20 January 2009

Derek Birrell  and
Alan Murie
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Social policy in Northern Ireland offers examples of social policies strongly influenced by ideological considerations. There are a number of factors which determine how susceptible services and policies are to ideological influences. Some services are particularly sensitive to ideological values and demands, for example, education. In certain areas the distribution of services and the allocation of resources has been significant in maintaining the political structure. The distribution of administrative responsibility, the absence of pressure from Britain for maintaining parity in social services, and the absence of non-secretarian pressures on the government are other significant factors. The process of analysing problems and formulating social policy reflects deep ideological divisions. This can be contrasted with the rational, empirical and pragmatic models of policy making, implicit in the development of social policy in Britain. With some minor modifications the British model of the Welfare State operates in Northern Ireland. In some areas it operates to serve ends other than those of redistribution or meeting social need. This provides insights into some of the assumptions made about social policy and the Welfare State in Britain.

Type
Articles
Information
Journal of Social Policy , Volume 4 , Issue 3 , July 1975 , pp. 243 - 258
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1975

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

1 For such a classification see Sartori, G., ‘Politics, Ideology and Belief Systems’, American Political Science Review, Vol. 63, 1969, pp. 398–411.CrossRefGoogle Scholar

2 See Heslinga, M. W., The Irish Border as a Cultural Divide, Assen: Van Gorcum, 1971.Google Scholar

3 See Moore, R., ‘Race Relations in the Six Counties’, Race, Vol. 14, 1973, pp. 21–42.CrossRefGoogle Scholar

4 See Rose, R., Governing without Consensus, London: Faber and Faber, 1971.Google Scholar

5 Minar, D. W., ‘Ideology and Political Behavior’, Midwest Journal of Politicai Science, Vol. 5, no. 4, 1961, pp. 317–31.CrossRefGoogle Scholar

6 See Partridge, F. H., Consent and Consensus, London: Macmillan, 1971, pp. 125–6.Google Scholar

7 O'Raifeartaigh, T., ‘Mixed Education and the Synod of Ulster’. Irish Historical Studies, Vol. IX, no. 35, 1955, pp. 281–99.Google Scholar

8 Akenson, D. H., Education and Enmity: The Control of Schooling in Northern Ireland 1920–50, Newton Abbot: David and Charles, 1973.Google Scholar

9 Statement by Ulster's Prime Minister, quoted in Lawrence, R. J., The Government of Northern Ireland, London: Oxford University Press, 1965, p. 112.Google Scholar

10 For a recent research study see J. Russell, ‘Civic Attitudes of Secondary School Children in Northern Ireland’, Northern Ireland Community Relations Commission. Research Paper.

11 Disturbances in Northern Ireland, Belfast: HMSO, 1969.CMD 532, para. 138–9.Google Scholar

12 Barritt, D. P. and Carter, C. F., The Northern Ireland Problem, London: Oxford University Press, 1961.Google Scholar

13 Disturbances in Northern Ireland, op. cit., para 140.Google Scholar

14 Busteed, M. A. and Mason, H., ‘Local Government Reform in Northern Ireland’, Irish Geography, Vol. VI, no. 3, 1971, pp. 315–23.CrossRefGoogle Scholar

15 See Common, R., ‘Some concerns of Regional Geography, with illustrations from Northern Ireland’, Scottish Geographical Magazine, Vol. 87, 1971, pp. 164–84.CrossRefGoogle Scholar

16 For further discussion see Brett, C. E. B., ‘The Lessons of Devolution in Northern Ireland’, Political Quarterly, Vol. 41, no. 3, 1970, pp. 261–80.CrossRefGoogle Scholar

17 Analysis of data contained in Commission on the Constitution, Minutes of Evidence III Northern Ireland. Appendix II London: HMSO, 1971.Google Scholar

18 First Annual Report. Northern Ireland Community Relations Commission, Belfast, 1971.Google Scholar

19 Brett, , op. cit., pp. 272–80.Google Scholar

20 For further discussion see Mitchell, J. M. and Mitchell, W. C., Policy-Making and Human Welfare, Chicago: Rand McNally, 1971Google Scholar, and Lindblom, C. E., The Policy-making Process. Englewood Cliffs: Prentice-Hall, 1968.Google Scholar

21 George, V. and Wilding, P., ‘Social Values, Social Class and Social Policy’, Social and Economic Administration, Vol. 6, no. 3, 1972, pp. 236–48.CrossRefGoogle Scholar

22 Marsh, D., The Welfare State, London: Longmans, 1970, p. 6.Google Scholar

23 Eyden, J. L. M., Social Policy in Action, London: Routledge and Kegan Paul, 1969, p. 5.Google Scholar

24 Slack, Kathleen M., Social Administration and the Citizen, London: Michael Joseph, 1969, pp. 48–9.Google Scholar

25 Pinker, R., Social Theory ana Social Policy, London: Heinemann, 1971, p. 102.Google Scholar

26 Disturbances in Northern Ireland, op. cit., para 127.Google Scholar

27 Warham, Joyce, Social Policy in Context, London: Batsford, 1970, p. 115.Google Scholar

28 Titmuss, R. M., Commitment to Welfare, London: Allen and Unwin, 1968, p. 195.Google Scholar