Northern Ireland and the Independent Parades Commission: Delegation and Legitimacy

Abstract

The issue of parades remains contentious and retains the potential to lead to violence on the streets of Northern Ireland. This article uses delegation theory to examine the accusations of illegitimacy which have been made against the Independent Parades Commission (IPC). It finds that only a small number of these accusations stem from the traditional concerns that delegated bodies are unelected and unaccountable. The claim that delegated bodies lead to superior outcomes (output legitimacy) is made by some actors but contested by the Loyal Orders and unionist politicians. The argument that delegated bodies enjoy legitimacy as a result of their superior process (procedural legitimacy) is made frequently. However, the IPC processes are also a source of accusations of illegitimacy. Finally, the ethnonational conflict context raises particular issues with the legitimacy of the delegated body.

Funding

The author is grateful to the Irish Research Council for its support which facilitated this research.

Notes

1 For a history of Nationalist and Republican parades, see Jarman and Bryan (2000).

2 An excellent and broader review of the political context for the setting up and operation of the IPC can be found in Jarman (1997).

3 Interestingly, despite this the majority of unionists and Orange Order members thought the Order should engage with the IPC. See, for example, Thornton (1999).

4 The Orange Order also rejected the Quigley plan because it felt the separate mediation and decision-making units would be even worse for them than the IPC.