The Limitations of Role, Capacity and Effect

Abstract

In summary thus far, the purpose of this book has been to analyse more systematically the phenomenon of political leadership during the peace process in Northern Ireland using three interconnected foci — that of the role, capacity and effect of political leadership. Beginning at a very general level, it has sought to both explain and define the nature of political leadership during the period between 1994 and 1998 in Northern Ireland, as perceived by both the political leaders themselves and also those commentators and analysts following the peace process. While some of the definitions discussed in Chapter 3 were revealing, it was clear that a more robust definition was needed which could put clear water between the more general concepts of political leadership, as articulated in Chapter 2, and those which were more specific to the context of a conflicted society. Hence, political leadership as a concept, in the context of the Northern Ireland peace process, was deconstructed into its constituent parts of role, capacity and effect for further examination. Collectively, these chapters on role, capacity and effect have illustrated some of the difficulties in grasping the various contours of political leadership in the context of a peace process.