Peace and Ethnic Identity in Northern Ireland

Consociational Power Sharing and Conflict Management

Nonfiction, Social & Cultural Studies, Political Science, International, Social Science
Cover of the book Peace and Ethnic Identity in Northern Ireland by Henry Jarrett, Taylor and Francis
View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart
Author: Henry Jarrett ISBN: 9781351706629
Publisher: Taylor and Francis Publication: October 16, 2017
Imprint: Routledge Language: English
Author: Henry Jarrett
ISBN: 9781351706629
Publisher: Taylor and Francis
Publication: October 16, 2017
Imprint: Routledge
Language: English

Consociational power sharing is often perceived to be the method of conflict management that is most likely to succeed in deeply divided societies. The case of Northern Ireland in particular is heralded by many as a consociational success story. Since the signing of the Good Friday (Belfast) Agreement in 1998, significant conflict transformation has taken place in the form of a considerable reduction in levels of violence and the establishment of power sharing between unionists and nationalists.

This book looks at what consociational power sharing achieves after its implementation – specifically, whether it can work to overcome existing identities in divided societies, or whether it simply freezes divisions. It argues that if consociational power sharing is facilitating a move towards a genuinely shared society, this would be demonstrated in the focus of the election campaigns of Northern Ireland’s political parties, which would be almost exclusively based around socio-economic issues affecting the whole population, rather than narrow single identity concerns. However, the book claims that, on the whole, this has not been realised. Although election campaigns are today less strident than they were in the pre-1998 era, it remains the case that they usually foreground single identity symbolism, as it is this that resonates with voters. Whilst consociational power sharing has been very successful in reducing levels of violent conflict and facilitating elite level cooperation between unionists and nationalists, it has been much less successful in reducing divisions within wider society to facilitate a genuinely shared Northern Irish identity.

By establishing an important middle ground between consociational proponents and critics, this research will be of significant interest to students and scholars of ethnic politics, political sociology, conflict management, and divided societies more generally.

View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart

Consociational power sharing is often perceived to be the method of conflict management that is most likely to succeed in deeply divided societies. The case of Northern Ireland in particular is heralded by many as a consociational success story. Since the signing of the Good Friday (Belfast) Agreement in 1998, significant conflict transformation has taken place in the form of a considerable reduction in levels of violence and the establishment of power sharing between unionists and nationalists.

This book looks at what consociational power sharing achieves after its implementation – specifically, whether it can work to overcome existing identities in divided societies, or whether it simply freezes divisions. It argues that if consociational power sharing is facilitating a move towards a genuinely shared society, this would be demonstrated in the focus of the election campaigns of Northern Ireland’s political parties, which would be almost exclusively based around socio-economic issues affecting the whole population, rather than narrow single identity concerns. However, the book claims that, on the whole, this has not been realised. Although election campaigns are today less strident than they were in the pre-1998 era, it remains the case that they usually foreground single identity symbolism, as it is this that resonates with voters. Whilst consociational power sharing has been very successful in reducing levels of violent conflict and facilitating elite level cooperation between unionists and nationalists, it has been much less successful in reducing divisions within wider society to facilitate a genuinely shared Northern Irish identity.

By establishing an important middle ground between consociational proponents and critics, this research will be of significant interest to students and scholars of ethnic politics, political sociology, conflict management, and divided societies more generally.

More books from Taylor and Francis

Cover of the book The Contemporary Monologue: Women by Henry Jarrett
Cover of the book Tourism and the Millennium Development Goals by Henry Jarrett
Cover of the book Democratizing Public Governance in Developing Nations by Henry Jarrett
Cover of the book Language and Linguistic Diversity in the US by Henry Jarrett
Cover of the book Rethinking Kinship and Marriage by Henry Jarrett
Cover of the book 'All the World's a Stage' by Henry Jarrett
Cover of the book The Cultural Practices of Modern Chinese Buddhism by Henry Jarrett
Cover of the book The Comedy of Errors by Henry Jarrett
Cover of the book Contemporary Families by Henry Jarrett
Cover of the book The Origins of the Present Troubles in Northern Ireland by Henry Jarrett
Cover of the book Auditing Theory by Henry Jarrett
Cover of the book Routledge Handbook of Contemporary India by Henry Jarrett
Cover of the book Learning From Children Who Read at an Early Age by Henry Jarrett
Cover of the book Postcommunist Film - Russia, Eastern Europe and World Culture by Henry Jarrett
Cover of the book A History of Early Al-Andalus by Henry Jarrett
We use our own "cookies" and third party cookies to improve services and to see statistical information. By using this website, you agree to our Privacy Policy