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Case Study 2: Northern Ireland
Conflict in Multi-Ethnic Societies
By the end of the lesson, students should be able to:
Understand the background to the conflict in Northern Ireland
Appreciate the causes of tension between Catholics & Protestants
Appreciate the consequences for this conflict for Northern Ireland
Lesson Agenda
Before the 12th Century, Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland were one country called Ireland.
In the 12th Century – England conquered Ireland. English allowed Scottish and English landowners to take over large tracts of land formerly owned by Irish inhabitants.
Most of these settlers were Protestants and they settled in the northern areas of Ireland (Northern Ireland)
Background – Early Period
As a result, Northern Ireland had more Protestants. The English Kings were Protestants.
This meant that Protestants were able to gain complete control over Ireland through a series of laws that limited their freedom and rights.
In 1800 – The whole of Ireland was brought under the United Kingdom – Irish in southern Ireland, were unhappy with British rule and violently protested – British government eventually lost control of the south.
Background – From 12th to 20th Centuries
In 1921 - Ireland divided into two separate parts based on the majority religion of each part.
Eventually, the South, known as the Irish Free State
became an independent country with a largely Catholic government.
Both Northern Ireland and the Irish Free State had their own parliaments but continued to recognize the English monarchy and the laws regarding foreign affairs.
In 1949 – Irish Free State cut ties with the United Kingdom and renamed itself the Republic of Ireland
Background – 20th & 21st Centuries
Before 1972, Northern Ireland had its own parliament at Stormont, near Belfast.
Since 1972 – It has been ruled directly by the British Parliament in London.
Though a part of the UK, Northern Ireland takes charge of its own commerce, health and education, while Britain handles foreign affairs and defence matters. The majority of the ministers in the Northern Ireland government are Protestants.
Northern Ireland Government
Divided Loyalties:
Differences in political beliefs between Catholics & Protestants
contributed to the tension and conflict in Northern Ireland
Most Protestants see themselves as British and wish the
country to remain as part of the UK – don’t want union with
ROI – fear that Catholics would not be tolerant of Protestant
beliefs.
Catholics - see themselves as Irish and want to be reunited with
Republic of Ireland. Catholics also resent the history of English
conquest - harsh treatment during Home Rule.
This loyalty to different countries make the Protestants and
Catholics intolerant of each other.
Causes of the conflict
Unequal allocation of housing
The provision of public housing by N.I city councils was carried
out unfairly. City councils consisted largely of Protestants decided
on how to allocate the government’s public housing budget.
Before 1992 – Catholics found the allocation to be unfair. Very
often, large Catholic families in need of housing had a long wait.
In some towns, more housing - allocated for Protestants than the
Catholics.
Catholics frustrated by this. Their living conditions were poor to
begin with and they had no access to new housing – this raised
tensions between the two groups which cultivated mistrust,
hatred and eventually led to conflict
Causes of Conflict
Unequal employment opportunities
Another cause of conflict between Protestants & Catholics in
Northern Ireland is the competition for jobs.
It is generally more difficult for Catholics in N.I to find jobs,
especially the more stable government jobs.
The Catholics feel that although they may be as academically
qualified as the Protestants they do not have the same
opportunities in getting the jobs that they want.
This raises tensions & mistrust bet. Catholics & Protestants as
Catholics are not able to enjoy a higher standard of living
because they do not have access to the same jobs as Protestants.
Protestants are unwilling accept equal employment terms as they
fear competition from Catholics.
Causes of Conflict
Lack of voting rights Before 1969 – voting rights was an issue bet.
Catholics & Protestants. Then, only those who owned houses & businesses were entitled to vote in the local elections.
Each household = two votes and companies more votes depending on their size. Protestant owned most of the companies and owned their houses. Poorer Catholics did not own businesses and some were tenants (did not own their own homes)
Catholics were most unhappy that voting districts were often drawn up to include a larger proportion of Protestants – Catholic protested against the voting system.
Causes of Conflict
Lack of Voting Rights – Con’td Since 1969 – everyone is entitled to one vote as
long as he/she is a British citizen above 18 years of age. He/she has to be born in N.I or has to have lived in the U.K for seven (7) years.
Voting districts were also re-drawn to ensure fairness.
Despite the changes after 1969 – there still remains quite a bit of mistrust of Protestants by Catholics. Many Catholics are fearful that as long as their remains a cloze connection between the U.K government and the Protestants in N.I – their rights may not be always protected.
Causes of Conflict
Lack of opportunities for social interaction
Separate education system & Residential areas – In N.I, there
are fully funded public schools that cater for Protestants only,
and private schools that cater to Catholics only – these private
schools are only partly funded by the government.
In public schools – Protestant children were taught British
history and played British games such as rugby, hockey and
cricket.
On the other hand, Catholic children learnt Irish history and
took up Irish games such as hurling, and were taught the
Irish language and culture.
Causes of Conflict
Lack of opportunities for social interaction
Separate residential areas – Since the 17th Century, Catholics and
Protestants have been living in separate residential areas.
The 1991 census showed that in Belfast, 63% of the population lived
in areas that were either mainly Catholic or mainly Protestant.
By 2001, this had risen to 66% - reducing the opportunity for social
interaction.
Without any means of interacting with each other, each group began
to developed very fixed notions and misconceptions of the other
group. This fuelled mistrust and in some cases hatred between them.
If a more concerted effort had been encouraged to allow Protestants
and Catholics to mingle with each other informally – the reasons for
tensions between them may very well have been reduced.
Causes of Conflict
The Troubles – Feb 1967 to 2010
Tension – Mistrust – Hatred - Conflict
The Northern Ireland Civil Rights Association was formed in
February 1967. Formed by a group of well educated middle
class Catholics. Aims:
…to bring political changes within Northern Ireland
…end discrimination against Catholics
Adopted non-violent methods to protest against discrimination
against Catholics – people involved included individuals from
trade unions and political parties
Catholic & Protestant Students from N.I universities
NICRA organized peaceful marches to raise awareness of the
discrimination faced by Catholics – during these marches
violence occurred.
The Troubles – Feb 67’ (Non-violence)
In August 1969 – British government sent in troops to help keep order.
The troops were initially welcomed by the Catholics as protectors as they were seen as a neutral force…however good relations did not last long.
The Troubles – Aug 69’ (British Troops)
Aug 1971 – Northern Ireland government
introduced the “Internment Laws” – gave British
Army the power to:
Arrest, interrogate & detain without trial anyone
suspected of being involved in any acts of to weaken
the State.
Catholics lost faith in the British Army when the
army began conducting searches of their homes and
arresting those suspected of terrorist activities.
The Troubles – Aug 1971 (Repression)
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 both a
protest against the internment laws and the ban on the
right to march.
Tensions before and during the march were rising –
British Army & government - unsure if there were violent
groups who might make use of the march to launch
attacks against soldiers and government officials –
The Troubles – 30 Jan 72’ (Bloody Sunday)
Nervous British troops suspected that some
people in the march were carrying weapons
and were about to use them – soldiers fired
into the crowd leaving 13 civilians dead and
many more injured
Led to a great outburst of anger – turned to
more radical and violent means of protest.
The Troubles – 30 Jan 72’ (Bloody Sunday)
After Bloody Sunday – more violence erupted bet.
Catholics and Protestants. Catholic homes were petrol-
bombed by Protestant mobs –
Shops and pubs which belonged to Catholics were also
burnt and bombed – Although the local police witnessed
this violence – they did not do anything to stop it.
In addition, British Army continued to search and detain
Catholics and in the process injured many Catholics and
destroyed their property.
The Troubles – After 72’
Feeling desperate – Catholics turned to the Irish Republic Army
(IRA) for help.
The IRA attacked the British soldiers and bombed businesses
and shops belonging to the Protestants
At first, the Catholics were “looked after” by the IRA as they
provided protection from Protestant mobs – however as the IRA
began to employ increasingly violent measures they began to
target Catholics who were working for a peaceful resolution of
the conflict as well as those working with the British Army – this
created fear among the Catholics towards the IRA
Between 1969 to 1993 – more than 3500 people were killed in
the conflict in the country
The Troubles – After 72’ (The IRA)
The IRA was responsible for two-thirds of the
deaths
Within a few months after the British Army
arrived – the IRA split into two factions – the
official IRA and the Provisional IRA – PIRA
was more radical and was more willing to use
terrorist tactics to force the British to
withdraw completely from N.I
The Troubles – After 1972 (The IRA)
Impacts of the Conflict
Social Segregation (Negative)
People in N.I have grown up in an atmosphere of
tension – Protestants and Catholics have also been
segregated socially in the way they live, work and play.
It is sometimes possible for young people in N.I to grow
up not having met someone from the other community.
This has led to the lack of understanding between the
two groups
Impact of the Conflict
Declining economy (Negative)
The economy of Northern Ireland has been affected by the
conflict. It has also discouraged domestic and foreign
investments in the country.
Foreign owned factories and businesses closed down
when the violence increased operating costs in Northern
Ireland. The constant threat of bombings and high costs of
security drove away large manufacturers in great
numbers.
Impacts of the Conflict
Political Reform (Positive)
The civil rights marches of the 1960s and 70s – put pressure
on the N.I government to pass anti-discrimination laws and
measures in the country.
Following further civil rights marches and demonstrations and
pressure from Britain – the Northern Ireland government
announced sweeping reforms of local government in N.I
Civil rights campaigns of 1968 successfully forced through
some reforms – after two marches the N.I government agreed
to abolish the unfair voting system and promised to review the
schemes for allocating government-owned houses.
Impacts of the Conflict
Lessons Learnt for Singapore:
Conflict between people of different religions and races
destroys lives, homes and property – everyone suffers
In a country with people of different races and
religions there is a need to be sensitive to one
another’s needs. Failure to understand and respect this
could result in the destruction of the country.
It weakens the development of the country and
provides an excuse for powerful neighbours to
interfere in the affairs of the divided country.
Conclusion