THE OPERATION OF SOCIAL SERVICES IN NORTHERN IRELAND IN TERMS OF PERFORMANCE BEFORE, DURING, AND IN RESPONSE TO THE VIOLENCE AND CIVIL DISORDER IN NORTHERN IRELAND SINCE 1969 IS DISCUSSED. THE PERCEIVED DISCRIMINATORY OPERATIONS OF DECENTRALIZED SOCIAL SERVICES, PARTICULARLY IN THE AREA OF HOUSING, WAS A MAJOR FACTOR IN VIOLENT UPRISINGS IN THE CATHOLIC WORKING-CLASS COMMUNITIES OF THE URBAN AREAS OF NORTHERN IRELAND. WITH THE EXPULSION OF MINORITIES OF BOTH PROTESTANTS AND CATHOLICS FROM THEIR HOMES AND COMMUNITIES, REFUGEE PROBLEMS ANALOGOUS TO TIMES OF WAR EMERGED. A NUMBER OF THE PAPERS DISCUSS THE COLLAPSE OF THE INFRASTRUCTURE OF SOCIAL SERVICES DURING THESE PERIODS. AN UNWILLINGNESS TO CHANGE THE TRADITIONAL ROLE AND STRUCTURE OF SOCIAL SERVICES FREQUENTLY IS CITED AS A MAJOR FACTOR IN THE INEFFECTIVENESS OF STATUTORY SOCIAL SERVICE AGENCIES IN CRISIS TIMES. PARTICULAR ATTENTION IS GIVEN TO THE EFFECTS OF VIOLENCE, THE THREAT OF VIOLENCE, AND THE DOMINANCE OF PARAMILITARY GROUPS IN VARIOUS COMMUNITIES UPON THE PROVISION OF PUBLIC AND SOCIAL SERVICES IN THOSE COMMUNITIES. POLICY AND ADMINISTRATIVE APPROACHES BY POLICE AND PENAL SERVICES IN THE MIDST OF VIOLENCE AND CIVIL DISORDER ARE ALSO EXAMINED. THE TENDENCY OF THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM TO REACT DEFENSIVELY, PUNITIVELY, AND WITH A POLICY ORIENTED TOWARD SECURITY AND CONTROL IS CRITICIZED. THE IMPACT OF CIVIL DISORDER AND VIOLENCE ON HEALTH SERVICES IS ALSO DISCUSSED. LESSONS TO BE LEARNED FOR SOCIETIES AND POLITICAL SYSTEMS CAUGHT UP IN A PROLONGED ATMOSPHERE OF CIVIL DISORDER AND VIOLENCE ARE EMPHASIZED, PARTICULARLY IN THE AREA OF THE PROVISION OF ESSENTIAL SERVICES FOR THE CITIZENRY. A BIBLIOGRAPHY AND AN INDEX ARE PROVIDED. (RCB)