Police Reform, Civil Society and Everyday Legitimacy: A Lesson From Northern Ireland Cover Image

Police Reform, Civil Society and Everyday Legitimacy: A Lesson From Northern Ireland
Police Reform, Civil Society and Everyday Legitimacy: A Lesson From Northern Ireland

Author(s): Branka Marijan, Dejan Guzina
Subject(s): Politics / Political Sciences
Published by: BCBP Beogradski centar za bezbednosnu politiku
Keywords: police reform; Northern Ireland; civil society; legitimacy; security governance; peacebuilding

Summary/Abstract: In post-conflict zones, there is a need to better understand the role of civil society in building the legitimacy of reformed police institutions. Northern Ireland provides an instructive case in this regard, as community involvement and civilian oversight of policing structures were prominent in the reform process. While much has been achieved since the 1999 Independent Commission on Policing, the question of police legitimation is still largely unresolved. In order for police reform to be fully realized, and to ensure that everyday legitimacy is established, more attention must be paid to building relationships between the police and local communities.

  • Issue Year: IX/2014
  • Issue No: 1
  • Page Range: 51-66
  • Page Count: 16
  • Language: English