Unit 1: Setting the Context and a brief background on the history and ORIGINS OF THE conflict in Northern Ireland:

Before you begin the reading for the course make sure you go to the “Ervine-Mitchell” Folder on Courseweb to view the videos, listen to Justifications of Violence from David Ervine.

Required Readings - Do in this order

• Edwards and McGrattan - pp 1-9

• Edwards and McGrattan pp. 124-145

• Padraiag O’Malley on Badge of Identity

• Brief survey of Irish History to 1912

• BBC - History - The Road to Northern Ireland, 1167 to 1921

• Partition and the birth of the Northern Ireland

• Macromedia presentation on the Troubles – Guardian

Recommended Reading

1.      Towards Partition from CAIN

Commentary

From the brief surveys above and the discussion we will hold in Workshop 1 we will analyze how Northern Ireland found itself "at the crossroads" in the 1960s.  But, as we know in history, "facts" of how Northern Ireland arrived at that “crossroads” do not necessarily have anything to do with what we believe.  All of us have our own “myths,” “beliefs,” and “certainties” that we bring to any historical discussion.  Nowhere is this truer than in the case of Irish history and, in particular, the situation in Northern Ireland, except for, possibly the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.  We know that partition took place in 1921 and that led to the creation of Northern Ireland. However, it depends on your political belief about the legitimacy of Northern Ireland in how you answer the questions “Why?” and “How?” this occurred.  For many people in Northern Ireland, Ireland and America this is still a very emotional issue conditioned by movies, books, family, community, schooling and the version of history taught to them, in essence what "Big" Jon McCourt calls "Inherited History." This also fits what Harry Donaghy argued when he said: "The Irish want their History like they want a Chinese carryout. They want it fast, hot and to their taste." So, we will begin by "deconstructing" all the accepted beliefs and/or myths on the origins of the modern Northern Ireland conflict using Edwards and McGrattan to begin this process. 

When you read pages 124-145 in Edwards and McGrattan, read them very carefully.  They attempt to set up and destroy all the accepted arguments for why the conflict began and set up their own, one that is based within the "Rational Choice" school.  What I would argue is, although, that is part of it, one cannot ignore the impact of the other theories that explain the origins of the conflict.  I would argue that you cannot distill it down to one explanation, but one has to look for a multi-causal explanation, an explanation that encompasses something from each of the theoretical models.  Still, this gives you a good foundation for the rest of the course as you can begin to decide for yourself whether or not you accept my argument or Edwards and McGrattan, or come up with one of your own.  

1. Understand the Edwards and McGrattan analysis of the origins of the Conflict

2. Be able to explain what Ervine and Mitchell's argument are and how they fit into, or not, Edwards and McGrattan's paradigm.

3. Be able to analyze or argue if Ervine and Mitchell are simply apologists for their own violence, in comparison to the "Rational Choice" argument.

4. In your own words explain why partition occurred.