Peace Building in Northern Ireland: A Role for Civil Society
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Date
2010
Authors
Knox, Colin
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Social Policy and Society
Abstract
Northern Ireland has witnessed significant political progress with devolution and a power
sharing Executive in place since May 2007. These political achievements, however,
conceal a highly polarised society characterised by sectarianismand community divisions,
the legacy of a protracted conflict. This paper is located in the theoretical discourse
between consociationalists who argue that antithetical identities cannot be integrated and
advocates of social transformation who support greater cross-community peace-building
initiatives through the involvement of civil society. This theoretical debate is taking place
in a policy vacuum. The Northern Ireland Executive has abandoned its commitment to
the previous (direct rule) administration’s A Shared Future policy and is now considering
alternatives broadly described as community cohesion, sharing and integration. Using
a case study of a Protestant/Catholic interface community, this paper offers empirical
evidence of the effectiveness of one social transformation initiative involving community
groups in a highly segregated area of West Belfast.
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Citation
Colin Knox; 2010; Peace Building in Northern Ireland: A Role for Civil Society; Social Policy and Society; http://nur.nu.edu.kz/handle/123456789/2292