Commentary

One of the most significant developments after 1975 was the emergence of Sinn Fein as a legitimate political party and major player in the politics of Northern Ireland. This was no accident, although it did benefit greatly from events that were beyond its control.  The British policy of “criminalization” (see Dixon p. 169 for more on this), as it attempted to “normalize” and “Ulsterize” the conflict, involved policies that led to the “dirty protests” and the “hunger strikes” in which Sinn Fein found its support and popularity grow.  Beyond these circumstances, the party was part and parcel of the “long war” strategy developed in Long Kesh.  Sinn Fein was part of the struggle for a United Ireland and it would fight the political struggle while the IRA carried out the military struggle, in essence the ‘Armalite and the Ballot Box’ strategy developed in the '70s and given voice by Danny Morrison much later.

Required Reading

1.         BBC Sites with Audio Files

a.         The Dirty Protest

b.         Blanket and Dirty Protest

2.         pp. 202-209 and 217-226 in Provos

3.          Inside the UDA, "Billy," – For a Loyalist prisoner’s perspective during the “Dirty Protest” - Handout in class

Commentary (cont.): Hunger Strikes

In this section we will analyze the reason for the “Hunger Strikes,” the strikes themselves and their impact not just on recruitment of volunteers to the Republican movement but in galvanizing Nationalists as well as Republicans to support the demands of the Hunger Strikers.  The unintended consequence of this strike (and the policies and actions of the British government) was the emergence of Sinn Fein as a legitimate political party and a major player in the politics of Northern Ireland. This had significant impact on the movement to the ceasefires in 1994 and also the Good Friday Agreement.

Required Reading

•  Chapter 7 in McKittrick

•  Chapters 16 and 17 in Provos

•  pp. 78-80 in Edwards and McGrattan

• Hunger Strikes  - CAIN - very short

•  PBS – Behind the Mask - very short

•  Go to and listen to:

  •  BBC Sites with Audio Files

  •  The Hunger Strikes and the death of Bobby Sands

  •  Violence and negotiations during the Hunger Strikes

•  Watch

  •  Loyalist View of the Hunger Strikes - There are 4 segments. You are not required to watch all of them. But, the one I've linked is very illuminating.

Videos to View: 

• Go to Courseweb - Video Files - Hunger Strikes. There are three videos here for you to watch.

•  Watch the playlist on YouTube on the Hunger Strikes.

•  Video on the Dirty Protest

Commentary (cont.): Emergence of Sinn Fein and the “Ballot Box and the Armalite” Strategy

As a direct result of the Hunger Strikes Sinn Fein became a potent political and electoral force.  Although that was not the intention of the Hunger Strikes, it was one of the by-products of them.  When reading for this unit pay close attention to how the strikes benefited Sinn Fein and how Sinn Fein used the strikes as part of the political and propaganda struggle.  A point to keep in mind for later in the class is to think about what the ramifications of their emergence would be for the long-term prospects for a United Ireland and/or peace in Northern Ireland.

Required Reading

•  Sinn Fein- Emergence after the Hunger Strikes

•  Chapter 20 in Provos

• A Scenario for Peace

Recommended:

• Report of the New Ireland Forum- 1983

Study Questions

• Analyze the reassessment that took place within the IRA and how it could eventually lead to the “dirty protests” and the “Hunger Strikes.”

•  Explain the policy of Ulsterization and criminalization, why the British attempted these and the role these played in the “dirty protests” and the “Hunger Strikes.”

•  What were the demands of the Hunger Strikers?

•  How did the “dirty protest” and the “Hunger Strikes” fit into the “long war” strategy?

•  There were two hunger strikes.  Analyze and explain how the IRA felt duped after the first strike and how that led to the second one in which 10 men died.

•  Why did the IRA eventually call off the strikes?

•  Analyze and explain the emergence of Sinn Fein in this period.

•  How was this conflict in the prisons all part of the larger struggle in Northern Ireland?

Terms and People to Know from this Unit

1.         Margaret Thatcher

2.         Bobby Sands

3.         Propaganda War

4.         H-Blocks

5.         The Blanket Men

6.         James Prior

7.         Political Integration