ORGANIZATION OF INFLUENCING. A Case Study on the Contexts, Tools and Channels of Influencing used by Sinn Féin & IRA
Alonen, Lasse (2007)
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Tiivistelmä
This study focuses on influencing as a whole by firstly defining it in general and then in different contexts. After this, the numerous ways in which influencing can be understood will be examined. In other words, what are the organizational arenas, organizational actors, and spheres in which influencing can take place? This will be done by first examining the organizational arenas: Power, Hierarchy and Decision-Making and Communication. Second, the possible organizational actors are handled. They are the Political & Economical actors and Voluntary Sector. These phenomena take place within the Public Sphere, which will be studied by examining the surroundings, Public Opinion and the Interplay of actors of interests.
Then, Influencing will be thoroughly organized by examining the diverse use of all the possible tools and channels which organizations are expected to use when they exercise influencing. These factors will be operationalized so that the tools and channels used by Sinn Féin and IRA, are interpreted. This part forms the empirical case analysis of this dissertation.
The primary research question is: “In which ways can influencing be organized and how are these ways reflected in the actions of the organizations, especially in case of the Sinn Fein?” The further focused questions are: “In what kinds of contexts can organizational influencing be distinguished?” ”What tools and channels in particular can organizations use in their attempts of influencing?” and “What kinds of particular items are expressed in the ways of influencing of Sinn Fein and IRA in terms of influencing contexts, and influencing tools and channels”
In order to simplify structure and make the study more easily approachable, the tools of influence will be dealt into three subgroups thus schematizing the chapter: Power-related tools of influence, hierarchy-related tools of influence, communication-related tools of influence. Given that the division may seem slightly artificial, it is well justified and necessary for the readability. Influencing needs certain channels to be conducted through. Into this study, the studied channels that were chosen are: television, radio and web-based channels. It is notable that all this is connected to the framework of public sphere.
The information for this study was extracted from many sources. Newspapers, books, articles and documents were used for document analysis. Four expert interviews were also conducted in order to gain a deeper perspective on the matter.
Somewhat surprisingly only a small percentage of the supporters of Sinn Féin accept its whole agenda, including uniting the island. However, the agenda has been cleverly built – it provides something for most people.
All in all the tools and channels of influencing that Sinn Féin uses nowadays, don’t differ too much from those of any other political party. The only difference being that Sinn Féin is more active in engaging people to politics and utilizing the new channels in a very innovative manner. This gives Sinn Féin an upper hand compared to other, more stagnant parties. It is left to be seen, how long the fresh grip is going to hold.
Then, Influencing will be thoroughly organized by examining the diverse use of all the possible tools and channels which organizations are expected to use when they exercise influencing. These factors will be operationalized so that the tools and channels used by Sinn Féin and IRA, are interpreted. This part forms the empirical case analysis of this dissertation.
The primary research question is: “In which ways can influencing be organized and how are these ways reflected in the actions of the organizations, especially in case of the Sinn Fein?” The further focused questions are: “In what kinds of contexts can organizational influencing be distinguished?” ”What tools and channels in particular can organizations use in their attempts of influencing?” and “What kinds of particular items are expressed in the ways of influencing of Sinn Fein and IRA in terms of influencing contexts, and influencing tools and channels”
In order to simplify structure and make the study more easily approachable, the tools of influence will be dealt into three subgroups thus schematizing the chapter: Power-related tools of influence, hierarchy-related tools of influence, communication-related tools of influence. Given that the division may seem slightly artificial, it is well justified and necessary for the readability. Influencing needs certain channels to be conducted through. Into this study, the studied channels that were chosen are: television, radio and web-based channels. It is notable that all this is connected to the framework of public sphere.
The information for this study was extracted from many sources. Newspapers, books, articles and documents were used for document analysis. Four expert interviews were also conducted in order to gain a deeper perspective on the matter.
Somewhat surprisingly only a small percentage of the supporters of Sinn Féin accept its whole agenda, including uniting the island. However, the agenda has been cleverly built – it provides something for most people.
All in all the tools and channels of influencing that Sinn Féin uses nowadays, don’t differ too much from those of any other political party. The only difference being that Sinn Féin is more active in engaging people to politics and utilizing the new channels in a very innovative manner. This gives Sinn Féin an upper hand compared to other, more stagnant parties. It is left to be seen, how long the fresh grip is going to hold.