Testing Adaptive Leadership Theory in Practice: The Policing of the Drumcree Demonstrations in Northern Ireland

Abstract

This chapter is a case study of radical change in the leadership strategy for the policing of the annual Drumcree Sunday demonstrations in Northern Ireland between 2002 and 2004. It is co-authored by a practitioner and an academic, who were both involved in different ways in the development and implementation of the alternative strategy in practice. Benington researches and teaches public leadership and public value on the Warwick MPA degree (a public sector MBA) and other courses. Turbitt was (then) a chief superintendent in the Police Service of Northern Ireland, the silver commander for the policing of the Drumcree demonstrations, and a participant in the Warwick MPA degree course from 2000 to 2003.