0 Northern Ireland’s structural challenges Situated between England and Ireland Part of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland Protestants feel like a threatened minority within Ireland Catholics feel like a threatened minority within Northern Ireland Longstanding economic and political discrimination Western counties mixed or dominantly Catholic 6 Northern counties of Ireland 1.5 million people 2/3 Protestant, 1/3 Catholic

1 Major domestic actors in the Northern Ireland conflict Ulster Unionist Parties Sought to dominate Stormont Nervous about London’s commitment to Northern Ireland Influenced by radical Protestants (Ian Paisley) (DUP) Overlapping membership in the Orange Order Police dominated by Protestants (90%) Had a strong militia component (UVF) Interacted with the UK military forces SDLP and Sinn Fein Developed to politically represent Northern Ireland Catholics’ nationalistic aspirations Sought to resolve the conflict through political struggle and elected office SDLP emerged out of the civil rights movement Sinn Fein had overlapping interests with the IRA Irish Republican Army (IRA) Initially rejected political solutions to the conflict Tried to serve as a counter-weight to the security forces Developed a strategy of terrorism and destabilization Splinter groups continued to try to spoil peace deals Security forces (RUC) (UVF)

2 Major episodes that led to violence Key moments and processes in the conflict: Marching season: Orange order vs. Catholic marches UVF started attacks on Catholics during the O’Neill years (1966) 1968 housing protest repressed Londonderry riots (1969) leads to military called in; IRA established End of Stormont (1972); IRA vs. army open conflict Bloody Sunday (1972) Loyalist killings (1974) to try to spoil the Sunningdale agreement

3 Strategic choices faced by major parties Ulster Unionists Should we continue to demand majority rule? How can we ensure that London stays on our side? How do we contain nationalist violence? Can we avoid internal divisions? Is violence necessary to successfully push for reform? Who is the real enemy: Britain or the Protestants? Can Sinn Fein and the SDLP work together? Great Britain Should Northern Ireland stay in the United Kingdom or be part of the Republic of Ireland? Can we trust Northern Ireland with local rule? How can we best provide security? Should we talk with the nationalist militants? Ireland Should we get involved in this conflict? How do we keep the IRA from destabilizing us at home? Can we work with the UK to resolve or contain this? Should Northern Ireland be part of the Republic? Nationalists

4 Attempts at resolving the troubles Sunningdale Agreement (1974) Anglo-Irish Accord (1985) Creates a power-sharing executive Creates a Council of Ireland, supported by Ireland Spoiled by loyalists; increased their violence by 300% Rejected by protest voting in the election Executive brought down by a massive union strike (UWC) Sinn Fein began to take their seats in governmental assemblies (Ireland) IRA demonstrated that it had real weapons (Libya) Secret contacts (SF/SDLP) and (UK/SF) UK statement that it was neutral on N. Ireland’s future Fear of renewed killing re-energized the process Downing Street Declaration (1993): N. Ireland could decide if it wanted to unite with Ireland Unilateral IRA ceasefire (1994) Peace process ( ) Nationalist hunger-strikes in revive IRA sympathies and show potential power of the ballot box (Bobby Sands) IRA/INLA resume attacks, including in England Rolling devolution: powers transferred to assembly only on areas of agreement (rejected by nationalists) Intergovernmental conference jointly chaired by England and Ireland (rejected by unionists/attacks on police)

5 The Good Friday Agreement (1998) A pacted transition Challenges Mediated in part by the US (George Mitchell) Tony Blair energizes the process as new Labour PM Nationalist demography and voting rates rise Based in formal power-sharing (First Minister is a Unionist; Deputy is a Nationalist) 10 ministries allocated relative to party strength New assembly to preside over most domestic issues (but not security) Each community has a veto over important decisions New British-Irish council formed Transformation of RUC to Northern Ireland Police Militant prisoners released within two years Endorsed by 71% of population in a referendum Was the IRA ceasefire a credible commitment? Ian Paisley’s DUP as rejectionists Delays in IRA weapons decommissioning (begins 2001) Challenge of violent spoilers (Docklands and Omagh) Orange marchers continued provocations

6 Important figures in the Northern Ireland conflict Gerry Adams—Sinn Fein John Hume—SDLP David Trimble—UUP Ian Paisley—DUP George Mitchell—USA Mo Mowlam—NI secretary

7 Northern Ireland today Current Assembly: DUP (30%), Sinn Fein (26%), UUP (16%), SDLP (15%) North/South Ministerial Council coordinates with Republic of Ireland IRA and protestant paramilitaries finish decommissioning in 2005 Sectarian and identity politics continue, but with general peace Stormont Peter Robinson (DUP) is First Minister Identity map of Northern Ireland (2011)