ch4: northern ireland

• 1. Chapter 4 Conflict inMulti-ethnic Societies
  • Case Study of Northern Ireland

2. Chapter Breakdown

• Introduction on N. Ireland and Conflict

• 4.1Causesof Conflict in Northern Ireland

• 4.2Consequencesof Conflict in Northern Ireland

3. Introduction

• You have looked at the case study ofSri Lankawhere theTamils and Sinhalesewere in conflict for decades due to the differences in ethnic groups.

• In the case-study ofN. Ireland , you will be looking at another example of conflicts between two groups of people theProtestants and Catholics .

• They were in conflict for over 30 years due to thedifferences in religious beliefs .

4. Introduction

• The war in Northern Ireland is another example of a civil war (war between groups of people within a country) that lasted for over 30 years.

• Over 3600 people died and more than 40 000 people have been injured due to this conflict.

5. Where is Northern Ireland? 6. History of Northern Ireland

• Before 12thC : 1 country Ireland

• 12thC : Ireland conquered by England English Protestant settlers push out Irish Catholics

• Northern part of Ireland mainly Protestant

Movement of British Protestants into N. Ireland, 1654-1801 7. History of Northern Ireland

• Protestants implemented Penal Laws against Catholics

• • Cannot buy land

• • Cannot vote

• • Cannot join the army

• • No access to higher education

• 1800 : Ireland became part of UK

• Local Irish Catholics sought limited self-government, did not want to be part of UK

8. History of Northern Ireland

• 1900s : British government lost control of Southern Ireland

• 1921 : Ireland divided into 2

• • South Irish Free state largely Catholic

• • North largely Protestant Catholics still treated unfairly

• 1949 : Irish Free StateRepublic of Ireland

9. Northern Ireland

• Capital at Belfast

• Protestants 58.8%,

• Catholics 41.2%

• Part of the UK

• Britain handles foreign affairs & defence matters

• N.Ireland handles commerce, health & education

• Majority of ministers are Protestants

10. Conflict in Northern Ireland

• The Protestants are mostly Scottish and English while the Catholics are mostly descendents of the local Irish inhabitants.

• This lack of common identity has prevented understanding and cooperation between the Protestants and Catholics.

• The religious differences between the two groups have also created tension between them.

11. 4.3 Causes of Conflict in N. Ireland

• Divided Loyalties

• Unequal allocation of housing

• Unequal employment opportunities

• Lack of voting rights

• Lack of opportunities for social interaction

12. 1. Divided Loyalties

• The difference inpolitical beliefsbetween the Protestants and Catholics has contributed to the conflict in N. Ireland.

• MostProtestants see themselves as Britishand wish to see the country remain as part of UK.

• Many of them do not want a union with the Republic of Ireland, a Catholic country. They fear that a Catholic government may not be tolerant of their Protestant beliefs.

13. 1. Divided Loyalties

• TheCatholics see themselves as Irish , and want to be reunited with the Republic of Ireland.

• They still resent the history of English conquest where Catholics were either killed or treated harshly.

• Thisloyalty to different countriesmakes the Protestants and Catholics intolerant of each other.

14. 2. Unequal allocation of housing

• Theunfair allocation of public housingby the city councils has contributed to the conflict in N. Ireland. The city councils consist largely of Protestants.

• TheCatholicsfind the allocation of public housing by the government to beunfair .

• Very often, the largeCatholics familiesin need of housing have towait a long timeto get the house. In some towns,more houses would be given to the Protestantsthan the Catholics.

15. 3. Unequal employment opportunities

• Another cause of conflict between the Protestants and Catholics in N. Ireland is thecompetition for jobs .

• It isgenerally more difficultforCatholicsin N. Irelandto find jobs , especially in the government sector.

• The Catholics feel that although they may have thesame qualificationsas the Protestants, theydo not have the same opportunitiesin getting the job they want.

16. 4. Lack of voting rights

• Before 1969,voting rightswas 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 bythe richer Protestants , theyended up with more votes .

17. 4. Lack of voting rights

• The voting system wasunfair to the poorer Catholics .

• Since 1969, everyone is entitled to one voteas 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.

18.

• In the education system of N. Ireland, the Protestants and Catholicsdo not study together in the same schools .

• 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.

5. Lack of Opportunities forSocial Interaction 19.

• Since the 17th century, the Protestants and Catholics have beenliving in separate residential areas .

• The 1991 census showed that in Belfast, 63% of the population lived in areas that are either mainly Protestants or Catholics. By 2001, this has risen to 66% (worsening the segregation). This has greatlyreduced the opportunity for social interaction .

5. Lack of Opportunities forSocial Interaction 20. How conflicts lead to violence in N. Ireland?

• In 1967, the Catholics set upN. Ireland Civil Rights Association (NICRA)to bring about changes within N. Ireland.

• It was formed by a group of well-educated, middle-class Catholics in N. Ireland who wanted to end discrimination against Catholics.

• NICRA adoptsnon-violent methodsto protest against discrimination against Catholics.

21. 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.

22. Civil rights marches and violence

• In 1971, the N. Ireland government introduced theInternment Laws . This gave the British army the power toarrest, interrogate and detain anyone without trial . The Catholics lose faith in the British Army when the army began searching their homes and arresting those suspected of terrorist activities.

23. Bloody Sunday

• On 30 January 1972 Bloody Sunday

• 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 & the ban on the right to march.

• The British soldiers shot at protestors, leaving 13 civilians dead and many wounded.

• The deaths on Bloody Sunday led to a great outburst of catholic anger.

• Led to more violence.

24. More Violence

• After 1972, the country sawmore violence between Protestants, Catholics and British Army . Catholic homes & businesses are targeted by Protestants & British army.

• The Catholics turned toIrish Republican Army (IRA)for help. The IRA attacked British soldiers and bombed Protestants properties.

• Between 1969 and 1993, more than 3500 people were killed in the conflict in the country. The IRA was responsible for two-thirds of the deaths.

25. 4.4 Consequences of Conflict inNorthern Ireland

• Beside human casualties, the violence in N.Ireland has also affected the country socially economically and politically.

• Social Consequence: Social Segregation

• Economic Consequences:Declining Economy

• Political Consequences:Political Reform

26.

• Social Consequences:Social Segregation

• The Protestants and Catholics have beensegregated socially , in the way they live, work and play. This has led to the lack of understanding between the two groups.

• In the education system of N. Ireland, theProtestants and Catholics do not st