Paths To A Political Settlement In Ireland

A unique and rare compilation of most Irish political parties' views on the Northern Ireland situation, featuring each party's opening submission to the Forum.

From Political Violence to Negotiated Settlement focuses on an issue that is of vital importance for contemporary Ireland: the tension between militarism and constitutionalism as platforms for political expression and activity. These tensions have deep historical roots, and this book seeks to examine them systematically. It brings together Ireland's leading specialists in the area - from the disciplines of history, political science and sociology - and seeks to provide historical depth to the debate about contemporary paramilitary violence. The book is structured along a mixture of chronological and thematic lines, starting with an analysis of the circumstances that brought the issue of violence as an agent of change to the centre of the Irish political stage. This perspective is developed further through an analysis of the significance of lessons learned in the pre-1922 period for subsequent political development, and by more detailed comment on the interplay between strategies of violence and the parliamentary path on the unionist and republican sides. The contemporary relevance of the issues raised is underscored in a contribution from the chair of the arms decommissioning body. Book jacket.

A unique and rare compilation of most Irish political parties' views on the Northern Ireland situation, featuring each party's opening submission to the Forum.

Almost nowhere are politics and history so intimately bound up as in Ireland. Over the course of several hundred years rival political and religious camps have shaped their identities according to particular interpretations of their shared history. As such, any re-examination and revision of Irish history has the potential to have a very real impact upon wider society. Defining revisionism in historiography as a reaction to contemporary conflict in Ireland, this book looks at how intellectuals, scholars and those who were politically involved, have reacted to a crisis of violence. It explores how they believed that revisionism in historiography was necessary - that a deconstruction, re-evaluation, and revision of ideology and therefore history was crucial in such a crisis of violence. This at times provocative approach seeks to better understand, clarify and de-mystify the ongoing revisionist debate in Ireland, through a critique and exposition of the theory of change and the process and product of change. Perry argues that revisionism should not be seen as solely a neutral form of academic or intellectual discourse, but one that is fundamentally linked to politics at the widest possible level; that revisionist assumptions underpin the validity and legitimacy of partition and the Northern Ireland state; that revisionism is widely judged to be anti-nationalist and pro-unionist; and that it is myopic with regard to the shortcomings of loyalism and unionism and has therefore a related ideological effect, if not intended purpose.

Hopes for a peaceful settlement in Northern Ireland have again put the politics of the province under the spotlight. This new text, written by acknowledged experts on Northern Ireland, provides an immediately accessible introduction to the multi-faceted nature of the politics of the region.

This is an introduction to the best available scholarship within Irish politics, featuring the most influential and significant articles which have been published on Irish politics during the past twenty years. Each article is accompanied by a new commentary by another leading scholar which addresses the impact and contribution of the article and discusses how its themes remain crucial today. The book covers all the most important topics within Irish politics including political culture and traditions, political institutions and parties and the peace process. The combination of the best original scholarship and contemporary commentaries on the core political issues makes Irish Political Studies Reader an invaluable resource for all students and scholars of Irish politics.

The State of Loyalism in Northern Ireland examines the changes and developments within parliamentary loyalism throughout the Northern Ireland peace process. Drawing from interviews with key players, it charts the drama of tensions, debates and negotiations and provides a compelling inside account.

Essential text for a 1 term/semester undergraduate course on Northern Ireland (usually a 2nd year option). Combines coverage of the historical context of the situation in Northern Ireland with a thorough examination of the contemporary political situation and the peace process. The book explores the issues behind the longevity of the conflict and provides a detailed analysis of the attempts to create a lasting peace in Northern Ireland.