TRUMP’S ELECTION A CATALYST FOR COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT

Read the full article in Issue 56 - Winter 2016/’17 of ‘Changing Ireland’!

Flick through the pages or download the PDF here: http://bit.ly/CI-Iss56-Winter2016-17

TRUMP’S ELECTION SHOULD BE A CATALYST FOR COMMUNITY
DEVELOPMENT
- Particularly for strengthening the ‘SICAP’ programme from 2017

BY ROBERT CAREY 

Robert Carey (pictured) is SICAP 

Programme Manager with North East 

and West Kerry Development Company. 

He writes here in a private capacity and 

is a regular contributor to ‘Changing Ireland’. 

The election of Donald Trump should be a catalyst for community development in general and SICAP in particular.

There has already been a barrage of discussion on why and how Trump won the election. Of relevance to community development is the fact that working class and middle class people are voicing their disaffection with growing economic inequality. In addition, the equality agenda is under attack with many  not convinced of its merits.

While America and Brexit may be totemic examples of these issues there are similar themes emerging across Western Europe, including Ireland.

Economic inequality has been increasing since the era of increased globalisation and neo-liberal capitalism was ushered in under Regan and Thatcher in the 1980s. Issues such as precarious low paid work (Ireland has one of the highest levels of low paid workers in the OECD) unemployment, high debt and insufficient services are causing angst.

Against this backdrop there is increased tension around migration accompanied by reported increases in racism and a hardening of opinions in some quarters with less empathy shown towards those in great need.  So how is this relevant to  community development?

These issues are not simple. Some working class people will blame people who are “downwards” (eg, the unemployed or poor) while some will look to hold those in power to account (witness the rise of the ‘Right to Water’ campaign).

Some people who support equality issues such as same sex marriage for example  may not necessarily support equality issues around migrants, Travellers or economic inequality.

These issues require us to challenge ourselves and our beliefs and to think about complex, sometimes uncomfortable issues that we often wish would just go away. This is why we need to engage, because most people’s default position is to have goodwill towards their fellow citizen.

There are many issues which are causing uncertainty and fractures in society. In response, we need to increase our awareness and knowledge and to debate such issues. Community development is pivotal in this - it can support education, discourse, community self-reliance, advocacy and the promotion of equality.

 The national Social Inclusion and Community Activation Programme (SICAP) is not only an activation programme: Equality and Community development (with its attendant concepts of social justice) are key principles in the Programme.

There is a clear need for a resource in communities to support the work identified above and the SICAP programme - delivered through Local Development Companies at local level - can play a key role here in promoting civic engagement around these issues. Local and Community Development Committees that oversee its management should take note.

In order to facilitate this investment in community development, the local delivery companies need to have the resources and support to fully engage in community development work. At present, Local Development Companies are under pressure to achieve high ‘activation’ targets (getting individuals into work and education). We could be putting more into promoting collective action and empowering communities. SICAP’s emphasis on individual advancement commands the majority of resources at present when it is clear the country needs a renewed programme that is more community development orientated.

The world and Ireland is changing and if SICAP is to have any impact on these issues it will need to change also.

Note: At Pobal’s labour market activation conference, in  November, Catherine Byrne, Minister of State for Communities and National Drugs Strategy, announced that 2017 will see evaluation of SICAP and consultation on the new Programme, which will be introduced in 2018.