Read the full article in Issue 56 - Winter 2016/’17 of ‘Changing Ireland’!
TRUMP’S ELECTION
SHOULD BE A CATALYST FOR
COMMUNITY
DEVELOPMENT
- Particularly for strengthening the ‘SICAP’ programme from 2017
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?
