Post on 06-May-2015
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Chapter 4 Conflict in Multi-ethnic Societies
CASE STUDY OF NORTHERN IRELAND
Adapted from Adeline Fam, adefam
Chapter BreakdownIntroduction on Northern Ireland and Conflict 4.1 Causes of Conflict in Northern Ireland4.2 Consequences of Conflict in Northern Ireland
In the case-study of N. Ireland, you will be looking at another example of conflicts between two groups of people
Introduction
The war in Northern Ireland is another example of a civil war that lasted for over 30 years.
A civil war is a war between groups of people within a country.
Before 12th Century1 country – Ireland12th CenturyIreland conquered by England - English Protestant settlers push out Irish Catholics
English Protestant
Irish Catholics
Northern part of Ireland - mainly ProtestantMovement of British Protestants into N. Ireland, 1654-1801
English Protestant
Irish Catholics
Protestants implemented penal laws against CatholicsCannot buy landCannot voteCannot join the armyNo access to higher
education
1800Ireland became part of UKLocal Irish Catholics sought limited self-
government did not want to be
part of UK
1900s British government lost control of Southern Ireland 1921 Ireland divided in 2
South – Irish Free state –largely Catholic
North – largely Protestant –Catholics still treated unfairly
1949 Irish Free State Republic of Ireland
Britain Foreign Affairs &
Defence MattersNorthern Ireland Commerce, Health &
Education
Majority of ministers are Protestants
Lack of common identity
X understanding
X cooperation
Religious differences create tension between them.
V.S.ProtestantsScottish and English
CatholicsDescendants of local Irish inhabitants
1. Divided Loyalties2. Unequal allocation of housing3. Unequal employment opportunities4. Lack of voting rights5. Lack of opportunities for social
interaction
Most Protestants• do not want a union with the
Republic of Ireland, a Catholic country.
• fear that a Catholicgovernment may not be tolerant of their Protestant beliefs
The Catholics resent the history of English
conquest where Catholics were either killed or treatedharshly.
Very often, the large Catholics families in need of housing have to wait a long time to get the house.
In some towns, more houses would be given to the Protestants than the Catholics.
Before 1969, voting rights was an issue between the Protestants and the Catholic.
At that time, only those who owned houses and businesses were entitled to vote in the local government elections.
Each household is entitled 2 votes while companies were entitled to more votes depending on their size. Since many companies were owned by the richer Protestants, they ended up with more votes.
Everyone is entitled to one vote as long as he/ she is a British citizen above 18 years old.
He/ she has to be born in N. Ireland or has lived in the UK for 7 years.
Since 1969
In the education system of N. Ireland, the Protestants and Catholics do not study together in the same schools.
In the education system of N. Ireland, Protestants attend the fully-funded public schools while the Catholics attend the private schools.
The private schools for the Catholics are partly funded by the government.
Since the 17th century, the Protestants and Catholics have been living in separate residential areas.
63%
66%
62%62%63%63%64%64%65%65%66%66%67%
1991 2001
Percentage of Population living in areas that are either mainly Protestants or Catholics
3%
N. Ireland Civil Rights Association (NICRA)
Set up by a group of well-educated, middle-class Catholics in N. Ireland who wanted to end discrimination against Catholics.
Adopts non-violent methods to protest against discrimination against Catholics.
Set up in 1967 to bring about changes within N. Ireland.
1968 marked the beginning of a period known as ‘The Troubles’ in N. Ireland.
It was during these peaceful marches that fighting first broke out between the Protestants, Catholics and police.
In 1969, the British government sent troops to keep order, welcome by Catholics initially.
The Catholics lost faith in the British Army when the army began searching their homes and arresting those suspected of terrorist activities.
15 000 people participated in an illegal, peaceful civil rights march in the Catholic-dominated area of Londonderry.
The march was organized by NICRA and was a protest against Internment Laws & the ban on the right to march.
The British soldiers shot at protestors.
13 civilians dead and many wounded
After 1972, the country saw more violence between Protestants, Catholics and British Army.
Catholic homes & businesses were targeted by Protestants & British army.
The Catholics turned to Irish Republican Army (IRA) for help.
The IRA attacked British soldiers and bombedProtestants’ properties.
Between 1969 and 1993More than 3500 people were killed in the conflict in the country. The IRA was responsible for 2/3of the deaths.
Beside human casualties, there are also
1. Social Consequences Social Segregation
2. Economic Consequences Declining Economy
3. Political Consequences Political Reform
The Protestants and Catholics have been segregated socially, in the way they live, work and play.
Lack of understanding between the two groups
In the education system of N. Ireland, Protestants attend the fully-funded public schools while the Catholics attend the private schools.
Since the 17th century, the Protestants and Catholics have been living in separate residential areas.
63%
66%
62%62%63%63%64%64%65%65%66%66%67%
1991 2001
Percentage of Population living in areas that are either mainly Protestants or Catholics
3%
The economy of N. Ireland has been affected by the conflict.
It has also discouraged domestic and foreign investments in the country. The foreign owned factories closed down when violence increased the operating costs in N. Ireland.
The constant threat of bombings and high cost of security drove away large manufacturers in great numbers.
1.The civil rights marches put pressure on the N. Ireland government to pass anti-discrimination measures in N. Ireland. 2.Following further civil rights demonstrations and pressure from Britain, the government announced sweeping reforms of local government in N. Ireland.
1972: Following Bloody Sunday in January, the N. Ireland government was suspended in March.
1973: An agreement was reached to introduce power sharing (spreading of power to govern the country) between the Protestants and Catholics.
1974: The agreement on power sharing was removed through a Protestant workers’ strike.
1988: Another agreement was reached to re-introduce power sharing but has not been fully implemented as the different political parties refused to share power.
1970s to 1990s
The British government had made attempts to bring peace back to N. Ireland. However, the Protestants and Catholics failed to come to an agreement.
In the late 1990s
The British government, the government of the Irish Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland community leaders actively discussed the Northern Ireland peace process.
Since the 1998 Good Friday Agreement, many problems still remain.
Violence has flared up again and again.