School of Social and Political Sciences - Theses
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ItemThe emergence of poverty entrepreneurs in the aftermath of the troubles in Dublin( 2015)Traditional anthropology research demonstrates how historical processes have led to and continue to affect contemporary society. The ‘Troubles’ in Northern and the Republic of Ireland lasted thirty years from the late 60s to late 90s and still continues to stigmatize Irish society. This thesis captures the lives of a group of people who regularly frequented an Irish pub and adjoining hostel in the North East of the city of Dublin during 2003-2004 that was devastated by drugs, crime, alcoholism and prostitution. It was the impact of the Troubles in the present context that saw the rise of a particular management style. The Management provided mutual aid (Arensberg & Kimball, 1977; Cohen, 2001) to the clientele, creating an empire that operated freely from the garda. The Management were active members of the Irish Republican Army (IRA) during the Troubles and continued to hold meetings while I was living there. The Management of O’Reily’s were very protective of loyal participants. Typical notions of law and order were not adhered to, for instance, if a crime took place, the garda was not called. The Management or a member of their empire were drawn upon to rectify justice. An informal economy surfaced because of state distrust. They fostered an empire that operated on the periphery of mainstream Irish society, cultivating legitimate and illegitimate economies. It appeared to be the aftermath of the Troubles that enabled these entrepreneurs to flourish. In an environment where there was little prosperity, poverty entrepreneurs took advantage. The weak and unsuspecting were utilized with purpose. Many in this empire where damaged by the nationalist struggle. Not only did the Troubles unify the empire through mutual aid but isolated their socialization. Many were distrustful of outsiders and as such, people were withdrawn and did not grow. Temporary migrants reified the attitudinal responses typical of the Management such a mutual aid, silence to social problems and protection from outsiders. They were, however, unable to cope in their environment. This thesis will tell their story and detail the culture of poverty characterized that emerged. It describes the conflictual-struggle a damaged society undergoes when rebuilding itself after a violent ethno-nationalist struggle. Often you felt sorry for the perpetrator and the victim, even though you did not necessarily excuse their actions. This empire was emblematic of the humanist struggle for meaning and the constant negotiation and renegotiation of appropriate action that takes place when a community attempts to reestablish normalcy again.