Suchergebnisse

AbstractLocal attempts to have industry locate in a west of Ireland town since the 1940s are examined in the light of two perspectives on the role of small‐scale self‐help groups in promoting industrial development. What we call the community development position holds that voluntary groups of the type represented here can facilitate the establishment of local industries in various ways. The second perspective, derived from the literature on political clientelism, suggests that politicians can project themselves as being in a better position and more effective than others in influencing locational decisions of incoming industry. Self‐help groups must therefore use politicians as intermediaries if they are to recruit capital externally. Examined over a period when state policy changed complexion, both perspectives are seen to illuminate certain dimensions of the activities of the Laketown Development Association.RésuméCet article étudie les efforts locaux de développement industriel dans une petite ville de ľOuest de ľlrlande. Concernant des petits groupes volontaires dans la promotion indus‐trielle, deux hypothèses sont discutées. La premiè1re, qui peut être appelée celle du développement communautaire, soutient que les groupes volontaires tels ceux étudiés ici peuvent effectivement favoriser de diverses manières un développement industriel local. La seconde hypothèse, appuyée par les études concernant le clientélisme politique, mettent en évidence le rôle des politiciens qui apparaissent mieux placés et plus efficaces pour influencer la localisation des investissements. II s'ensuivrait que les groupes volontaires auraient à utiliser les hommes politiques comme intermédiaires quand ils veulent attirer des capitaux exogènes. L'étude pone sur une période pendant laquelle la politique étatique a changé, et les deux hypothèses permettent de comprendre plusieurs aspects de ľactivité de la 'Laketown Development Association'.KurzfassungVersuche auf örtlicher Ebene zur Industrieansiedlung in einer Sudt Westirlands seit 1940 werden im Lichte zweier Betrachtungsweisen kleiner Selbsthilfegruppen zur Förderung der industriellen Entwicklung in Irland untersucht. Die Position, die wir die der Gemeindeent‐wicklung nennen, behauptet, daß freiwillige Gruppen der Art, wie wir sie in unserer Fallstudie finden, die Schaffung örtlicher Gewerbebetriebe in verschiedenartiger Weise fordern. Die zweite, aus der Literatur uber politischen Klientelismus abgeleitete Betrach‐tungsweise spielt darauf an, daß Politiker sowohl in einer besseren Position als auch wirkungsvoller erscheinen als andere, wenn sie die Standortentscheidungen der hereinkom‐menden Industrie beeinflussen. Selbsthilfegruppen müssen deshalb Politiker als Vermittler nutzen, um Kapital von außerhalb anzuziehen. Nach Prüfung iiber einen Zeitraum der Veränderung staatlicher Politik, kann von beiden Betrachtungsweisen angenommen werden, daß sie bestimmte Dimensionen der Aktivitäten der Laketown Development Association beleuchten.

ABSTRACTThis paper presents findings from the first study of the social networks of a group of young people in Ireland who have experienced long‐term foster care. The study group was composed of two groups of young people, a group who were currently in care and a group who had left the care system. The central focus was to examine the impact of foster care on the social network experience of the young people. Findings indicated that foster care impacts on the young people's social network experience in the following ways: losing contact with extended family; a greater challenge in making and sustaining friendships; an impact on education; and an inability to maintain contact with groups and activities that are of significance. This paper also presents recommendations in relation to policy and practice, including the raising of awareness of the importance of a social network approach in working with young people with care experience.

In this paper, marriage settlement records from a north Galway legal practice are utilised to provide additional insights into the socio-legal aspects of the marriage practices of west of Ireland farmers. The significant new findings include: the complexity and variety of forms of property transfer; the wide range of actors and interests involved in the settlements; and the far from universal presence of the dowry. While the empirical base of the paper is limited, the findings are such as to question some of the taken-for-granted elements of farmer's marriage patterns as they are described in previous accounts.