Best of enemies: former combatants working together in N. Ireland

Dr. Alan Bruce

ULS Ireland

7th International Congress on Conflictology and Peace

UOC Open University of Catalonia, Barcelona

2 October 2014

Prequel….Why this sudden bewilderment, this confusion?…

Why are the streets and squares emptying so rapidly,

Everyone else going home in thought?

Because the night has fallen and the barbarians haven’t come.

And some of our men who have just returned from the border say

There are no barbarians any longer.

Now what’s going to happen to us without barbarians?

Those people were a kind of solution.

Waiting for the Barbarians

Constantine Cavafy

N. Ireland: roots of conflict

Where do we start?

The Northern Ireland paradise The occupied and oppressed nation The troublesome isle Shared invisibilities

Contours of a history

Celtic dreamscapesChristian fusion and innovation Invasion, absorption and diversityLand and dispossessionThe laboratory of colonialismFear and self-loathing

Memories, memories…

The only memory is the memory of wound Czeslow Milosz

Victims or perpetrators Disputed pasts What do we know? Who are we? Who can we trust?

History as nightmare

Divided identities Cultural difference Inequality and injustice Ethnic and religious conflict Partition of Ireland 1921 Constant rebellion: the Civil Rights struggle and 1968 Europe’s long war: 1969-1994

The fractured island

The troubled nation

Attempting solutions

Peace process: 1990s Belfast Agreement 1998 Innovative politics: power sharing Policing Shared space Common language: divided identities Divided learning Prejudice, discrimination, sectarianism

Constructing shared learning

Overcoming mistrust Emphasis on those who participated, experienced, suffered Origins of Expac The Messines project Role of EU: Peace and Reconciliation Program Role of US: learning exchange and IFI

Conflicts of Interest

Curriculum developmentWorkshop based seminarsDVD footage – multimediaDistance learning supportCase studiesPersonal testimony: guest lecturersConflict transformation trainingMediation skills

Urban nightmares?

Starting point…..2007

Engaging learners

Community uptakeRepublican groupsLoyalist groups Interaction and conflictAddressing identityComparative analysisAdult education methodology

Modules

Origins and nature of conflictCase study: BalkansConflicts and human rightsCase study: SpainSectarianism and discriminationCase study: European UnionReconciliation and changeCase study/practicum: South Africa

Methodology

Expert external testimony/witnessMedia and filmSite visitsDebateHistory and identityShared learning projectsAcademic inputsLearning support and application

Apprentice Boys’ Hall: Derry

Belfast 2009

Teachers, Derry 2010

Developing linkage: Greece

Developing linkage: school debates

Embedding learning

Accreditation: QUB 2011European application: Balkans, UK, CyprusRights, diversity, communityConflict resolution methodologiesTechnology and e-learningDealing with hatred and conflictSustainable, innovative learningFuture directions

Communities empowered

Relevance Sustainability Cogency Academic depth User friendliness Progression and deepening From reconciliation to transformation The role of human rights Lessons for Europe

From hope to reality

Gràcies!

Dr. Alan Bruce

ULS Dublin

abruce@ulsystems.com