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Home > Northern Irish Troubles: 1969-1999

Northern Irish Troubles: 1969-1999

Center: 
Dublin
Program(s): 
Dublin Summer - Irish General Studies [1]
Discipline(s): 
Political Science
History
Course code: 
PO/HS 360
Terms offered: 
Summer
Credits: 
3
Language of instruction: 
English
Instructor: 
Dr. Theresa O’Keefe
Description: 

This course examines the development of the Northern Ireland conflict, including the Peace Process and the attempts to transition away from conflict. The story of ‘The Troubles’ is a deeply contested one, as are academic interpretations of the conflict. Furthermore, dominant narratives of The Troubles have silenced the voices of the more marginal members of Northern Irish society, particularly women and ethnic-minorities. This course, therefore, will look at the conflict and its relevance from different viewpoints – Republican, Nationalist, Loyalist, Unionist, the British and Irish governments. It will also look beyond these dominant discourses in an attempt to capture a holistic understanding of how the conflict developed, was shaped, and ‘peace’ brokered.

Attendance policy: 

Because IES Abroad courses are designed to take advantage of the unique contribution of the instruction and the lecture/discussion format, regular class attendance is mandatory. Any missed class, without a legitimate reason will be reflected in the final grade. A legitimate reason would include a documented illness or family bereavement. Travel, (including travel delays) is not a legitimate reason.

Method of presentation: 

The course will be a combination of lecture, seminar-style discussion and presentations. Student participation will be encouraged and expected in each session.

Required work and form of assessment: 
  1. Mini-essay (based on presentation) (30%)
  2. Final paper (40%)
  3. Class presentation (15%)
  4. Class contribution and participation in discussions (15%)
content: 

Week 1

Session 1: Introduction to Course/ Broad Historical Context

Brief overview of the course and assessment. This is followed by an outline of the historical events that led to the emergence of different ‘traditions’ on the island of Ireland. Please note that there are no set readings for this introductory lecture.

Session 2: Partition and Stormont

Required Reading:

  • Henessey, T. 1997. A History of Northern Ireland – 1920 – 1996. Dublin: Gill & Macmillan, Chap 1
  • Dixon, P. 2001. Northern Ireland : The politics of war and peace. Palgrave : London, Chap 1

Further reading:

  • Feeney, B. 2002. Sinn Fein: 100 Turbulent Years. Chap 4
  • Farrell, M. 1976. The Orange State, Chaps 1-9
  • Bew, P. et al. 1979/1994. The State in Northern Ireland, Chaps 2-5

Week 2

Session 1: The Civil Rights Movement

Required reading:

  • Farrell, M. 1976. The Orange State, Chap 10
  • Ruane, J & Todd, J. 1996. The dynamics of Conflict in Northern Ireland. University Press: Cambridge. Chap 5

Session 2 The fall of Stormont, the Failure of Power Sharing and Direct Rule.

Required Reading:

  • Bew, P. et al. 1979/1994. The State in Northern Ireland, Chap 6

Further reading:

  • Hennessey, T. 2005. Northern Ireland : the origins of the Troubles. Gill & Macmillan : Dublin, Chap 2
  • Aretxaga, B. 2001. ‘The Sexual Games of the Body Politic: Fantasy and State Violence in Northern Ireland’, Culture, Medicine and Psychiatry 25 (1): 1–27.
  • Dixon, P. 2001. Northern Ireland : The politics of war and peace. Palgrave : London, Chap 7
  • Farrell, M. 1976. The Orange State, Chaps 11-12
  • Feeney, B. 2002. Sinn Fein: 100 Turbulent Years. Chap 8
  • Hennessey, T. 2005. Northern Ireland : the origins of the Troubles. Gill & Macmillan : Dublin, Chaps 6, 7 & 9
  • Kerr, M. 2006. Imposing power-sharing : conflict and coexistence in Northern Ireland and Lebanon. Irish Academic Press : Dublin, Chap 2
  • Feeney, B. 2002. Sinn Fein: 100 Turbulent Years, Chap 8
  • Moloney, E. 2003. A secret history of the IRA. Penguin : London, Chap 1-4.
  • O’Leary, B & McGarry, J. 1993. The Politics of Antagonism

Week 3

Sessions 1&2: Prison Protests and the Hunger Strikes.

Required reading:

  • O’Keefe, T, 2006. “Menstrual Blood as a Weapon of Resistance” International Feminist Journal of Politics 8:4 December 2006, 537–558. (on moodle)
  • Feeney, B. 2002. Sinn Fein: 100 Turbulent Years. Chap 9

Further reading:

  • Bew. P & Patterson, H. 1985. The British State and the Ulster Crisis. Chaps 3-4
  • Moloney, E. 2003. A secret history of the IRA. Penguin : London, Chap 4
  • Coogan, Tim Pat (1980). On The Blanket: The H-Block Story. Dublin: Ward River.
  • O’Malley, P. 1990. Biting at the Grave: The Irish Hunger Strikes and the politics of Despair. Blackstaff: Belfast
  • O’Rawe, R. 2005. Blanketmen : an untold story of the H-Block hunger strike. New Island : Dublin
  • Beresford, D. 1987. Ten Dead Men.
  • McCafferty, N. 1981. The Armagh Women. Dublin: Co-op Books.

Week 4

Session 1: Women and Conflict

Required reading:

  • Ashe, F. 2008. ‘Gender and ethno-nationalist politics in Northern Ireland’ in C.Coulter and M.Murray (eds), Northern Ireland after the troubles. Manchester : Manchester University Press.

Session 2 Women in Conflict

Required reading:

  • Dowler, L. 1998. ‘ “And they think I’m just a nice old lady”. Women and war in Belfast, Northern Ireland’ in Gender, Place and Culture. 5:2: 159-176 . (moodle)
  • O’Keefe, T., 2004, 'Trading Aprons for Arms: Feminist Resistance in the North of Ireland', Resources for Feminist Research/Documentation sur la Recherche Feministe, 30, 3-4  (moodle)

Further reading

  • Aretxaga, B, 1997. Shattering Silence: Women, Nationalism and Political Subjectivity in Northern Ireland.
  • O’Leary, B. 1987. ‘The Anglo-Irish Agreement: Meanings, Explanations, Results and a Defence’ in Teague, P (ed). Beyond the Rhetoric.
  • P.Shirlow and B.Murtagh, 2006. Belfast: Segregation, Violence and the City, London: Pluto. [chap 5]

Week 5

Sessions 1&2: Community, class and identity – Loyalism and Republicanism

Required reading:

  • Ruane, J & Todd, J. 1996. The dynamics of Conflict in Northern Ireland. University Press: Cambridge. Chap 4
  • Tong, J. 2006 Northern Ireland Chaps 2 & 7.

Further Reading:

  • Aughey, A. 1997. ‘The Character of Ulster Unionism’ in Shirlow, P & McGovern, M (eds) Who are ‘the People’? London : Pluto
  • Hall, Michael. (ed.) (2006). Loyalism in Transition: (1) A new reality?, (Island Pamphlets No.79), Newtownabbey: Island Publications.
  • McKeown, L. 2001. Out of Time: Irish Republican Prisoners. Long Kesh 1972–2000.Belfast: Beyond the Pale.
  • McKay, Susan. “North Belfast: Frankenstein, Friends and Fallen Angels. Northern Protestants: An Unsettled People. Susan McKay. Belfast: The Blackstaff Press, 2000.
  • Hall, Michael. (ed.) (1994). Ulster’s Protestant Working Class: A community exploration, (Island Pamphlets No.9), (October 1994). Newtownabbey: Island Publications.
  • De Barόid, Ciarán. 2000.  “The Easter Riots”. Ballymurphy and the Irish War. London: Pluto Press
  • Feeney, B. 2002. Sinn Fein: 100 Turbulent Years. [chap 8]

Week 6

Session 1: The Peace Process: Who Defines ‘Peace’?

Required reading:

  • Cox. M. 2000. A farewell to arms? : from war to peace in Northern Ireland. Manchester University Press : Manchester, Parts 1 & 2

Session 2: The Good Friday Agreement and Beyond.

Required reading:

  • O’Keefe, T. 2012.  ‘Sometimes it would be nice to be a man’: negotiating gender identities after the Good Friday Agreement. In: Everyday life after the conflict: The impact of devolution and North-South cooperation. Manchester University Press, Manchester, UK, pp. 83-97. (moodle)
  • Connolly P and Khaoury, R. 2008. “Whiteness, racism and exclusion in Northern Ireland: a critical race perspective” in Colin Coulter & Michael Murray (eds).2008.  Northern Ireland after the Troubles? A Society in Transition. Manchester University Press. 

Further Reading:

  • McIntyre, A. 2001, ‘Modern Irish Republicanism and the Belfast Agreement: Chickens Coming Home to Roost, or Turkeys Celebrating Christmas?', in, Wilford, Rick. (ed.) (2001), Aspects of the Belfast Agreement. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
  • Hainsworth, Paul, ed. (1998) Divided Society Ethnic Minorities and Racism in Northern Ireland.
  • Feeney, B. 2002. Sinn Fein: 100 Turbulent Years. Chap 11
  • McGarry, J. & O’Leary, B. 1995. Explaining Northern Ireland. Blackwell: London. Chap 10, Appendices A & B
  • Moloney, E. 2003. A secret history of the IRA. Penguin :London, Chap 15
  • Steward, P & Shirlow, P (eds). 1999. NI: Between Peace & War? Chaps by Steward & Shirlow
  • Bric, M and Coakley, J. (eds). 2004. From political violence to negotiated settlement.  [See chapters by Jackson, Dixon & De Chastelain in particular]
  • Colin Coulter & Michael Murray (eds).2008.  Northern Ireland after the Troubles? A Society in Transition. Manchester University Press.  Chap 1
Required readings: 

Aughey, A. 1989. Under Siege: Ulster Unionism and the Anglo-Irish Agreement. Blackstaff: Belfast

Bric, M and Coakley, J. (eds). 2004. From political violence to negotiated settlement. UCD Press : Dublin

Coulter, C. 1999. Contemporary Northern Ireland: An Introduction. Pluto: London.

Dixon, P. 2001. Northern Ireland : The politics of war and peace. Palgrave : London

Henessey, T. 1997. A History of Northern Ireland – 1920 – 1996. Dublin : Gill & Macmillan.

McGarry, J. & O’Leary, B. 1995. Explaining Northern Ireland. Blackwell: London.

Miller, D. 1998. Rethinking Northern Ireland. Longman: London.

Ruane, J & Todd, J. 1996. The dynamics of Conflict in Northern Ireland. University Press: Cambridge.

Tonge, J. 2006. Northern Ireland. Cambridge : Polity press

Tonge, J. 2005. The New Northern Ireland Politics? Basingstoke : Palgrave

Other Resources: 

Websites of Interest

UK Government Site – www.gov.uk [2]

UK Government Northern Ireland Office – www.nio.gov.uk [3]. This site contains links to the Northern Ireland Executive, the Northern Ireland Assembly and the political parties.

Irish Government Site – www.irlgov.ie [4]. See particularly the Dept. of Foreign Affairs site. Also contains links to political parties.

RTE News – www.rte.ie [5]. News site of the Irish state broadcasting service.

BBC News – http://news.bbc.co.uk/ [6]. News site of British state broadcasting service.

CAIN – Conflict Archive on the InterNet - http://cain.ulst.ac.uk/ [7]. This site contains a vast array of resources, reports, pictures and information related to the Northern Ireland conflict and the peace process. It is hosted by the University of Ulster.

Island Publications – The Farset Community Think Tanks Project -http://cain.ulst.ac.uk/islandpublications/index.html [8]

NICVA - http://www.nicva.org/ [9]. Northern Ireland Council for Voluntary Action

Hanna’s House http://www.hannashouse.ie/ [10]

Institute for Conflict  - http://www.conflictresearch.org.uk/index.php [11]

Institute for British-Irish Studies http://www.ucd.ie/ibis/ [12]

Equality Commission http://www.equalityni.org/ [13]

Notes: 

This course is offered during the regular semester and in the summer. For summer sections, the course schedule is condensed, but the content, learning outcomes, and contact hours are the same.

Source URL: http://www.iesabroad.org/study-abroad/courses/dublin/summer-2012/po-hs-360

Links:
[1] http://www.iesabroad.org/study-abroad/programs/dublin-summer-irish-general-studies
[2] http://www.gov.uk
[3] http://www.nio.gov.uk
[4] http://www.irlgov.ie
[5] http://www.rte.ie
[6] http://news.bbc.co.uk/
[7] http://cain.ulst.ac.uk/
[8] http://cain.ulst.ac.uk/islandpublications/index.html
[9] http://www.nicva.org/
[10] http://www.hannashouse.ie/
[11] http://www.conflictresearch.org.uk/index.php
[12] http://www.ucd.ie/ibis/
[13] http://www.equalityni.org/