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