‘Give Us Another MacBride Campaign’: An Irish-American Contribution to Peaceful Change in Northern Ireland

McNamara, Kevin R.

doi:10.5949/upo9781846314155.008

Cited by 2 publications

(5 citation statements)

References 0 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…This campaign concentrated on those US companies and public bodies that were investing in Northern Ireland, and argued that they should adopt what were termed the 'MacBride Principles' -with a commitment to anti-discrimination and the promotion of equality of opportunity in employment (McNamara, 2007). According to McCrudden et al (2009: 9-10):…”

Section: Fair Employment Equality and Affirmative Action In Northermentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Second, a political campaign aimed at legal reform emerged (McNamara, 2007). This campaign concentrated on those US companies and public bodies that were investing in Northern Ireland and argued that they should adopt what were termed the ‘MacBride Principles’ – with a commitment to anti-discrimination and the promotion of equality of opportunity in employment (McNamara, 2007). According to McCrudden et al (2009),Another politically important reason for employers to engage in affirmative action in Northern Ireland was provided by the MacBride Principles.…”

Section: Affirmative Action In Context: Northern Irelandmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Mobilizing against neo-liberalism? Global affirmative action in context

Harvey

2014

Cultural Dynamics

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

This article uses the example of Northern Ireland to illustrate how political mobilization may be deployed to challenge structural forms of inequality. The experience suggests that regulatory models can be designed for particular contexts to shape approaches that present challenges to dominant economic and political orthodoxies. The intention is not to overstate the significance of this specific transitional context but simply to highlight elements that might feature in any attempt to mobilize successfully around human rights and equality, and against aspects of neo-liberal thinking. Keywords IntroductionAffirmative action is a sharply contested concept. The question of how inequality is addressed remains pressing because of the significance to individuals and communities of being enabled to participate effectively in social, political, economic and cultural life. Laissez faire policies of non-intervention, promoted by neoliberalism, do little to disrupt established patterns of unfairness. The argument in this article is that social and political mobilization can succeed, even in the face of neoliberal pressures, to secure progressive group-based measures to protect human rights and equality. The rise of a globalized movement arguing for human rights and equality, reinvigorated in the second half of the 20 th century, has promoted sophisticated understandings of the relationship between the rights of individuals and the rights of groups (Kymlicka, 2007). The term 'affirmative action' can be elusive, and can also be understood differently in localized settings. At its core, it represents an attempt to create the conditions for individuals and communities to participate in a range of social, political, economic and cultural spheres. The ambition is to eradicate barriers to participation that are structurally embedded, and will not erode in the absence of forms of directed legal and political action. In law, this will often mean the creation of legal tools to make change possible -in other words, using law to achieve social change. The picture that emerges is complex, and includes political mobilization through law, the enactment of measures, and the continuing contestation that arises. Keeping in mind the multiplicity of approaches, the aim here is simply to sketch how discussions in Northern Ireland might relate to the global conversation. The intention is therefore to highlight the adoption of affirmative action policies in the specific context of ethno-national division, and then to reflect on some of the implications. The Northern Ireland experience is of a society that has witnessed violent conflict, but which exists in a European liberal democratic setting. This shapes the normative reality of what might be possible, and indicates how we should understand this example. The global and the local therefore meet in a delicate set of interactions which are ongoing. The debate is brought into sharp focus in the tensions which emerge with the rise of neo-liberalism, and the models of political life it endo...

show abstract

Section: Fair Employment Equality and Affirmative Action In Northermentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Affirmative Action In Context: Northern Irelandmentioning

confidence: 99%

Mobilizing against neo-liberalism? Global affirmative action in context

Harvey

2014

Cultural Dynamics

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…The Anglo-Irish Agreement 1985 marked a significant step in a more co-ordinated and joint inter-governmental approach to ‘managing’ Northern Ireland, and this became an engine for reform. Second, a political campaign aimed at legal change, which emerged with assistance from the US, proved significant (McNamara, 2007). This campaign involved a focus on those US companies and public bodies that were investing in Northern Ireland, and advanced the argument that they should adopt what were termed the ‘MacBride Principles’ 11 – establishing a commitment to anti-discrimination practices and the promotion of equality of opportunity in employment (NcNamara, 2007).…”

Section: Fair Employment Equality and Affirmative Actionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Second, a political campaign aimed at legal change, which emerged with assistance from the US, proved significant (McNamara, 2007). This campaign involved a focus on those US companies and public bodies that were investing in Northern Ireland, and advanced the argument that they should adopt what were termed the ‘MacBride Principles’ 11 – establishing a commitment to anti-discrimination practices and the promotion of equality of opportunity in employment (NcNamara, 2007). The MacBride Principles (launched in 1984 and subsequently amended), and this general strategic approach to the promotion of reform, are of wider interest when considering transnational legal and political mobilisation around legal reform that incorporates diaspora communities.…”

Section: Fair Employment Equality and Affirmative Actionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…These were Principles targeted expressly at employers and investors (international investors with links to Northern Ireland) with a view to the promotion of affirmative action, as part of a wider investment strategy. The campaign met with considerable official resistance from all three governments (US, Ireland and Britain), but those leading it saw value in appealing over the heads of the ‘political establishment’ and directly to the Irish-American community (McNamara, 2007). The Principles were monitored by a body called the Investor Research Responsibility Centre.…”

Section: Fair Employment Equality and Affirmative Actionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Contextualised Equality and the Politics of Legal Mobilisation: Affirmative Action in Northern Ireland

Harvey

2012

Social & Legal Studies

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

This article examines the development of affirmative action and equality policies targeted at the two main ethno-national communities in Northern Ireland, as an example of 'contextualised equality'. The argument places particular weight on a politics of legal mobilisation. The article suggests that the ability to connect post-1998 reforms, in practical and symbolic ways, to overriding inter-communal narratives was often a determining factor in identifying those elements of the Good Friday Agreement which advanced, or were constructed as achievable. The argument has implications for understanding how equality debates will progress, and explaining why certain agendas appear to 'succeed' and others 'fail'.

show abstract

‘Give Us Another MacBride Campaign’: An Irish-American Contribution to Peaceful Change in Northern Ireland

Cited by 2 publications

References 0 publications

Mobilizing against neo-liberalism? Global affirmative action in context

Mobilizing against neo-liberalism? Global affirmative action in context

Contextualised Equality and the Politics of Legal Mobilisation: Affirmative Action in Northern Ireland

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About