Papers
Alienated Radicals and Detached Deviants: What do the lessons of the 1970 Falls Curfew and the alienation-radicalisation hypothesis mean for current British approaches to counter-terrorism?
published in 'Policy Studies', 2009
British counter-terrorism policy-makers are at the centre of two inherently problematic debates. First, there is the debate regarding the worthiness of incorporating theoretical and historical discussions into the policy-making process, and second, there is the discourse surrounding the nature of alienation and how this affects counter-terrorism as a whole. This article seeks to demonstrate how the empirical base provided by theoretical and historical discussions is not only of benefit to but also a necessity in the policy-making process. Although critical theoretical discussions and 'problem-solving' techniques may appear to be polar opposites, the observations of theorists such as Dryzek (1987) suggest that in reality the two approaches are often interdependent. Comparing the alienation-radicalisation hypothesis with the 1970 Falls Curfew, this discussion suggests that current approaches to counter-terrorism need to take into account the radicalising affect of alienation both for communities and for state forces. By learning the lessons of the Falls Curfew, we can see that making communities the focus of counter-terrorist initiatives is not enough and that there needs to be a partnership process between state and non-state actors. Looking at the Curfew through this framework, this article critiques current counter-terrorist policies and shows that if integration is the ultimate aim of these policies then it needs to come from both sides that and discussions of counter-terrorism, both academic and political, need to recognise this.
Like (1)'Family Breakdown and Living Coniditions' in: Literature Review on the Impact of Family Breakdown on Children: A report to the European Commission
Co-authored with: Stafford, B., Roberts, S, Ross, J. and Unell, J., forthcoming
A twelve-country review of the impact of family breakdown and household dissolution on children and young people. The review combined findings relating to family breakdown with Hantrais' family policy typology to gauge the differences between case study areas. My contribution ("Family Breakdown and Living Arrangements") addressed issues of housing choice, experiences and stability amongst children and young people who had experienced family breakdown.
Evidence review by International Centre for Public and Social Policy, School of Sociology and Social Policy, University of Nottingham
Commissioned by European Commission
A new deal for political space? What effect could space have on the New Deal for Communities?
published in 'People, Policy and Place Online', 2009
The dynamics of engagement, particularly at a local level, have been a key concern of New Labour’s political discourse. Drawing on theoretical models such as social capital and social cohesion, the government has invested both time and capital into increasing ‘active citizenship’, particularly in economically deprived and socially marginalised areas. The flagship of this policy approach has been the New Deal for Communities (NDC) programme. This ten year initiative, which led to the formation of local partnership boards in 39 of the most deprived areas in Britain, has been the subject of much analysis both by practitioners and academics and a wealth of data has been gathered regarding the social, economic and political characteristics of the NDCs. However, conspicuous by its absence from NDC evaluations has been the ‘geographic’ issues of space and scale and the impact ‘the politics of scale’ may have on the NDC programme. For this reason, this article aims to explore the potential applications of these geographic debates within NDC research and to critique NDC through the lens of the politics of scale.
NDC Elections: a significant event for Partnerships and Communities?
Co-authored with: Wells, P. and Platts-Fowler, D., Commissioned by Department for Communities and Local Government, 2009
Funded by the Department for Communities and Local Government as part of the second phase of the NDC National Evaluation, this study looked at the significance of holding elections for NDC Partnership Boards; the elections process at NDC level; and the associated pros and cons of using elections across the 39 NDC areas using both qualitative and quantitative research methods. The findings of this study will inform policy-makers and partnership workers on how to best proceed after the NDC programme is completed in 2010.
Conducted by the Centre for Regional Economic and Social Research, Sheffield Hallam University, 2007-2008
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