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

They were in conflict for over 30 years due to the differences in religious beliefs.

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.

> 3 600 died > 40 000 injured

Where is Northern Ireland?

History ofNorthern Ireland

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

Key Traits ofNorthern Ireland

Capital at Belfast

Protestants 58.8% Catholics 41.2%

Part of the UK

Britain Foreign Affairs &

Defence MattersNorthern Ireland Commerce, Health &

Education

Majority of ministers are Protestants

Conflict inNorthern Ireland

V.S.

ProtestantsScottish and English

CatholicsDescendants of local Irish inhabitants

Lack of common identity

X understanding

X cooperation

Religious differences create tension between them.

V.S.ProtestantsScottish and English

CatholicsDescendants of local Irish inhabitants

Causes of Conflict inNorthern Ireland

1. Divided Loyalties2. Unequal allocation of housing3. Unequal employment opportunities4. Lack of voting rights5. Lack of opportunities for social

interaction

DividedLoyalties

The Difference in

Political

Most Protestants • see themselves as British• wish to see the country remain

as part of UK.

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 see themselves as Irishwant to be reunited with the

Republic of Ireland.

The Catholics resent the history of English

conquest where Catholics were either killed or treatedharshly.

This loyalty to different countries makes the Protestants and

Catholics intolerantof each other.

UnequalAllocation of Housing

Unfair Allocation of

Public Housingby

The City Councils (largely Protestants)

The Catholics find the allocation of public housing by the government to be unfair.

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.

UnequalEmployment

Opportunities

More difficult for Catholics in N. Ireland to find jobs, especially in the government sector.

Catholics

SameQualification

UnequalOpportunities

Lackof Voting Rights

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.

UNFAIR!

Poorer Catholics

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

Lackof Opportunities for Social Interactions

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%

Social Segregation

Lack of Social Interaction

Lack of Understanding between the Two Groups

How Conflicts

Violencelead to

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.

Civil Rights Marches to Violence

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.

In 1971, the N. Ireland government introduced the Internment Laws.

This gave the British army the power to arrest, interrogateand detain anyone without trial.

The Catholics lost faith in the British Army when the army began searching their homes and arresting those suspected of terrorist activities.

Sunday30th January 1972

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

The deaths on Bloody Sunday led to a great outburst of Catholicanger.

More Violence

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.

Consequences of Conflict in

Northern Ireland

Beside human casualties, there are also

1. Social Consequences Social Segregation

2. Economic Consequences Declining Economy

3. Political Consequences Political Reform

Social Consequences:

Social Segregation

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%

Social Segregation

Lack of Social Interaction

Lack of Understanding between the Two Groups

Economic Consequences:

Declining Economy

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.

Result

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.

Political Consequences:

Political Reform

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.

Hopefor

Peace

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.

The Good Friday Peace Agreement was reached in 1998.

the peace agreement was

unsuccessful.

However,

Since the 1998 Good Friday Agreement, many problems still remain.

Violence has flared up again and again.

However, steps towards arms decommissioning and increased sensitivity are positive developments.

It seems clear that the majority of people are ready to take on the challenge in return for peace.

However,