Symbols, Flags and the Symbolic Landscape in Northern Ireland

Dominic BryanInstitute of Irish Studies

Queen’s University Belfast

The Symbolic Landscape

The ‘symbolic landscape’ – how people narrate meaning and identity in their physical world (planning of spaces, building, symbols, memories, memorials, parades, protests, carnivals etc etc).

The symbolic landscape as a reflection of power and identify.

The Development of Public Space

• The development of public (civic) space – religion, politics, identity.

• Democratic Principles – Freedom of Expression/Freedom of Assembly/Freedom from harassment

• The power to control civic space (class, age, gender, ethnicity).

• Contestation in the public space –private v commons; norms and values; ‘public order’; violence, threat, harassment…

• Contestation of public space and divisions within society.

• Manifesting power in the public space.

How Symbols Work

• the meaning of symbols is not fixed;

• meaning depends upon context;

• symbols have a range of meanings;

• different people will read the same symbol in a different way;

• the psychological drives for the display of symbols might vary;

• Symbols help community formation;

• power dictates strategies followed;

• new symbols can be used to in new situations;

• political actors have a number of strategies when using symbols.

Symbolic Conflict:

• InventedAll symbols are invented at some point in time.

• ValuedSymbols are used in contexts, such as rituals, where they are given value.

• AppropriatedSymbols with value are often appropriated by different groups.

• DestroyedSymbols can be banned and destroyed.

(Simon Harrison 1995)

THE USE OF FLAGS ON THE LANDSCAPE OF

NORTHERN IRELAND