Beyond the community conflict: Historic compromise or emancipatory process?∗

Abstract In the context of the present peace process, all parties are looking to processes which move beyond community conflict and bring possibilities of political settlement. I argue that this requires a radical, emancipatory approach which can frame and inform the search for a fair political compromise. But to speak of moving beyond community conflict assumes some shared understanding of community conflict, and it is on a particular understanding of that conflict that my suggestions are based. I therefore begin by highlighting the paradoxical nature of community conflict in Northern Ireland and show its implications for the search for resolution.

[1]  J. Todd,et al.  The Dynamics of Conflict in Northern Ireland: Power, Conflict and Emancipation , 1998 .

[2]  B. O’Leary,et al.  The Politics of Antagonism: Understanding Northern Ireland , 1996 .

[3]  J. Todd,et al.  The dynamics of conflict in Northern Ireland: List of tables , 1996 .

[4]  P. Gibbon,et al.  Northern Ireland 1921-1996: Political Forces and Social Classes' , 1995 .

[5]  Richard Deutsch.  W.D. Flackes & Sydney Elliott : Northern Ireland. A political Directory 1968-1993. (1st éd. 1980) 1994 ; David McKittrick : Endgame. The search for Peace in Northern Ireland, 1994 , 1995 .

[6]  J. Ruane.  Conflict Management vs Conflict Resolution: An Emancipatory Approach to the Northern Ireland Conflict , 1994 .

[7]  S. Bruce.  The Edge of the Union: The Ulster Loyalist Political Vision , 1994 .

[8]  Andy Pollak,et al.  A Citizens' inquiry : the Opsahl report on Northern Ireland , 1993 .

[9]  B. O’Leary.  PUBLIC OPINION AND NORTHERN IRISH FUTURES , 1992 .

[10]  Éamonn Hughes.  Culture and Politics in Northern Ireland 1960-1990 , 1991 .

[11]  J. Fulton.  The Tragedy of Belief: Division, Politics, and Religion in Ireland , 1991 .

[12]  J. Todd.  Northern Irish nationalist political culture , 1990 .

[13]  J. Whyte.  Interpreting Northern Ireland , 1990 .

[14]  B. O’Leary.  The Limits to Coercive Consociationalism in Northern Ireland , 1989 .

[15]  F. Wright.  Northern Ireland: A Comparative Analysis. , 1989 .

[16]  B. Rolston,et al.  Belfast in the Thirties: An Oral History , 1987 .

[17]  J. Todd.  Two traditions in unionist political culture , 1987 .

[18]  J. Whyte.  How is the boundary maintained between the two communities in Northern Ireland , 1986 .

[19]  F. Stern,et al.  Uncivil Wars: Ireland Today , 1983 .

[20]  J. Whyte.  WHY IS THE NORTHERN IRELAND PROBLEM SO INTRACTABLE , 1981 .

[21]  M. Tomlinson,et al.  Northern Ireland: Between Civil Rights and Civil War , 1982 .

[22]  W. D. Flackes.  Northern Ireland, a political directory, 1968-79 , 1980 .

[23]  R. Rose.  Governing without consensus;: An Irish perspective , 1971 .