This book explores the relationship between the Irish police and ethnic minorities, made particularly pressing by the rapid ethnic diversification of Irish society. It addresses the current deficit in knowledge of this area by exploring how Irish police officers conceive of, talk about, and interact with Ireland's immigrant minority communities.

Built upon an impressive mountain of empirical research, the book shows in great detail how police actively create 'the other' in both discourse and action and how that creation itself is influenced by the wider political and social context. O'Brien-Olinger's deft combination of evidence and theory makes this book of interest far beyond policing scholars. (Jesse S. G. Wozniak, American Journal of Sociology, 2016)

Autorentext

Sam O'Brien-Olinger received his PhD from the School of Sociology at University College Dublin, Ireland, in 2012. He was first awarded an Irish Research Council for the Humanities and Social Sciences Scholarship in 2007.

Inhalt

PART I

Introduction

1. Situating the Present

PART II

2. Theory-methodology: Human Agency

3. Fieldwork

PART III

4. Impact of Diversity on Core Elements of Garda Habitus

5. The Unknown - Policing in Uncharted Waters

6. Adapting to Difference

7. Knowing 'Them': The Production, Circulation, and Effect of Discourse

8. Policing Immigrants