NCJ Number
56207
Journal
Journal of Peace Research Volume: 15 Issue: 3 Dated: (1978) Pages: 243-258
Date Published
1978
Length
16 pages
Annotation
SECURITY POLICYMAKING AND POLICE-MILITARY RELATIONS IN MULTIETHNIC SOCIETIES ARE DISCUSSED, WITH IRELAND THE CASE IN POINT.
Abstract
THE HISTORY OF IRELAND, AND MORE RECENTLY OF ULSTER (NORTHERN IRELAND, THE PART OF IRELAND STILL UNDER THE BRITISH CROWN), SHEDS LIGHT ON THE INTERACTIONS OF POLICE, MILITARY, AND POLICYMAKERS. THE ORIGINS OF THE POLICE IN THE UNITED KINGDOM LIE IN THE CENTRAL GOVERNMENT'S DESIRE TO RELIEVE THE ARMY OF THE BURDEN AND RISK OF INTERNAL ORDER-KEEPING. BUT THE POLICE MODELS CREATED FOR BRITIAN AND IRELAND WERE QUITE DIFFERENT. THE ROYAL IRISH CONSTABULARY, LATER THE ROYAL ULSTER CONSTABULARY (RUC), WAS DESIGNED AS A PARAMILITARY FORCE--TO MAINTAIN THE POLITICAL ORDER, NOT SIMPLY TO PROTECT CITIZEN SECURITY. IRISH PROTESTANTS, WHOSE CHIEF CHALLENGERS WERE IRISH NATIONALISTS (PRIMARILY CATHOLIC) RATHER THAN CRIMINALS, CONTROLLED THE CONSTABULARY. BY MAKING THE CONTROL OF IRISH NATIONALISM A POLICE RATHER THAN A MILITARY AFFAIR, PROTESTANT OFFICIALS IN DUBLIN AND LONDON COULD RELEGATE THE NATIONALISTS TO A CATEGORY OF MERE 'BANDITS,' THUS DOWNPLAYING THE THREAT TO STATE SECURITY. IN THE 1960'S, THE POLICE-MILITARY DIVISION OF LABOR IN ULSTER WAS REVERSED. CERNTRAL STATE SECURITY PLANNERS HAD TO BRING IN THE MILITARY WHEN THE RUC, BECAUSE OF THE ESCALATING CONFLICT AND BECAUSE OF ITS OWN WEAKNESSES (PARTICULARLY ITS OVERWHELMINGLY PROTESTANT COMPOSITION), COULD NO LONGER MAINTAIN POLITICAL ORDER. MOST RECENTLY, LONDON HAS TRIED TO RESTORE THE DIVISION OF LABOR IT DEEMS OPTIMAL BY PURSUING A 'PRIMACY OF THE POLICE' POLICY. IT REMAINS TO BE SEEN WHETHER THIS POLICY WILL ENHANCE THE SECURITY OF ULSTER'S CITIZENS OR MERELY BOLSTER THE SECURITY OF THE STATE. A LIST OF REFERENCES IS INCLUDED. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED--LKM)