Browsing by Subject "Northern Ireland"
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Item Open Access Confronting the 'Post-Conflict’ Label: An Exploration of Ethno-Sectarian Identity in Northern Ireland and Cyprus(2016-04-27) Brody, LauraGhosts of conflict haunt many societies around the world. In those that remain divided, sectarian sentiment governs societal norms and structures. Assigning the 'post-conflict' label to these societies marginalizes the need to actively work towards reconciliation between opposing communities. It also creates a hierarchical perception of suffering by dismissing experiences of first-hand and trans-generational trauma. This thesis aims to challenge the 'post-conflict' label by extending the popular definition of violence past that of bloodshed to one that encompasses representational forms of violence. I will explore patterns of representational violence in societies divided along ethnic lines through the lens of Northern Ireland and Cyprus. These case studies will be placed side by side to demonstrate the shared patterns that enable sectarian sentiment to perpetuate and resurface throughout time. Both Northern Ireland and Cyprus are considered 'post-conflict' on the basis of treating their most recent eras of violence, the Troubles and the Cyprus Problem respectively, as isolated historical events. These are not isolated events, but parts of much larger conflicts driven by centuries-old Irish-British and Greek-Turkish rivalries. In the first chapter, I will outline legacies of Greek-Turkish and Irish-British tension. In the second chapter, I will explore the heroic and villainous archetypes that perpetuate ethno-sectarianism in Northern Ireland and Cyprus. In the third chapter, I will explore present-day spatial and mental divisions that inhibit interaction between opposing communities and harden existing ethno-sectarian tensions. The patterns revealed in Northern Ireland and Cyprus may aid in understanding the social practices of divided societies around the world.Item Open Access From Sunningdale to Good Friday: The Challenge of the Relationship Between Politics and Paramilitaries for Achieving Peace in Northern Ireland During The Troubles(2018-03-27) McKaughan, Cynthia RuddThe British government made three official attempts to end the conflict in Northern Ireland, known as The Troubles: the Sunningdale Agreement of 1973, the Anglo-Irish Agreement of 1985, and the Good Friday Agreement of 1998. Drawing on media coverage and the actual text of each agreement, as well as the considerable body of scholarly research on each individual process, this project identifies the issues confronting the British government in all three instances: which organizations in Northern Ireland to include at the negotiating table, what role the British government would play in Northern Ireland in the treaty’s aftermath, what security measures to take to stop the violence while ensuring human rights, how to address the political challenges posed by paramilitary organizations, and whether or not to include other nations in negotiating the peace, as well as in Northern Ireland’s affairs once the Troubles ended. The Good Friday Agreement succeeded where its predecessors failed primarily because of the decision to include representatives of paramilitary groups despite their history of complicity in violence. All sides finally agreed to participate in a political power-sharing arrangement that militants on both sides long viewed as a betrayal to the cause for which they willingly killed and died. The Good Friday Agreement’s utilization of the Republic of Ireland and international authorities strengthened the commitment to new political structures. Finally, the British removal of Direct Rule and military occupation, as well as reforms to Northern Ireland’s policing and justice, signaled the end of The Troubles. This project concludes by discussing recent events since the end of The Troubles that potentially affect the maintenance of peace in Northern Ireland.