Northern Ireland in the 1980s

A Decade of Failed Attempts and Hardened Fronts

Term Paper , 2008 , 15 Pages , Grade: 2,0

English Language and Literature Studies - Culture and Applied Geography

This essay analyzes the situation in Northern Ireland during the 1980s, focusing especially on the historical and political dimensions of the Northern Irish conflict. It sets out to show the 1980s in Northern Ireland as a decade of failed attempts to bring peace to the region, analyzing the reasons for the failures and sketching out the reactions of the political parties towards these attempts. Furthermore it represents an attempt to show the historical, social and political background of the Northern Ireland conflict, which arose out of the conflict between the two communities living in the region, a conflict which is not only a religious one, but rather the result of differences in social situation, ethnical and cultural identity and political expectations and wishes of the people of Ireland, all of which is the result of the Irish history which began many centuries ago.
With the analysis of the political situation during the 1980s, this essay also attempts to show the antagonism in Northern Ireland, which is not genuinely motivated by religion but rather results out of different political ambitions than out of different beliefs.

Table of Contents

• Introduction
• How the Troubles Began
  • The Northern Irish Conflict
  • The Troubles 1968-1980
  • Hunger Strike 1980/81
• A Decade of Hardened Fronts
  • The Intern Approach: Constitutional Conference and Assembly
  • The Intergovernmental Approach
    • The New Ireland Forum
    • The Anglo-Irish Agreement
• Towards the Peace Process

Objectives and Key Themes

This term paper aims to analyze the situation in Northern Ireland during the 1980s, focusing on the historical and political dimensions of the Northern Irish conflict. It aims to showcase the 1980s as a decade of failed attempts to bring peace to the region, exploring the reasons for these failures and the reactions of the political parties to these attempts.

• Historical and political background of the Northern Irish conflict
• Failed attempts to bring peace to Northern Ireland in the 1980s
• Analysis of the reasons for these failures
• Reactions of the political parties to these attempts
• The influence of the conflict between the two communities in Northern Ireland on the political situation in the region

Chapter Summaries

• Introduction: This chapter provides a brief overview of the historical context of the Northern Irish conflict, outlining the main events that led to the escalation of violence in the 1970s. It highlights the failure of the British government to find a lasting solution to the conflict, particularly during the 1980s.
• How the Troubles Began: This chapter traces the origins of the Northern Irish conflict back to the Middle Ages and the arrival of Anglo-Norman troops in Ireland. It delves into the historical context of the conflict, emphasizing the social, political, and economic factors that contributed to the division between Protestants and Catholics. It also highlights the development of Nationalist and Loyalist movements in the 19th century and the impact of the Home Rule debate on the political landscape of Ireland.
• The Northern Irish Conflict: This chapter provides a detailed account of the historical context of the Northern Irish conflict, starting from the arrival of Anglo-Norman troops in Ireland and ending with the partition of the island in 1921. It explores the social, political, and economic factors that contributed to the division between Protestants and Catholics, highlighting the impact of the Ulster Plantation, the rise of Nationalist and Loyalist movements, and the Home Rule debate.
• The Troubles 1968-1980: This chapter focuses on the escalation of violence in Northern Ireland during the late 1960s and 1970s, commonly known as the "Troubles." It examines the role of the Civil Rights Movement in galvanizing social and political unrest, the outbreak of riots and shootings, and the emergence of terrorist groups on both sides of the conflict.
• Hunger Strike 1980/81: This chapter details the hunger strikes organized by Irish Republican prisoners in 1980 and 1981, a pivotal event in the history of the Northern Irish conflict. It examines the demands of the prisoners, the government's response, and the impact of the hunger strikes on the public and the political landscape.
• A Decade of Hardened Fronts: This chapter analyzes the political approaches taken by the British government during the 1980s to resolve the conflict in Northern Ireland. It focuses on the failures of both the intern approach (constitutional conference and assembly) and the intergovernmental approach (New Ireland Forum and the Anglo-Irish Agreement), outlining the reasons behind their lack of success.
• The Intern Approach: Constitutional Conference and Assembly: This chapter explores the attempts made by the British government to establish a constitutional conference and an assembly in Northern Ireland, aiming to bring together representatives from both communities and find a peaceful solution to the conflict. It delves into the reasons why these efforts ultimately failed.
• The Intergovernmental Approach: This chapter examines the intergovernmental approach taken by the British and Irish governments to address the Northern Irish conflict. It focuses on the creation of the New Ireland Forum, a body convened to discuss the future of Northern Ireland, and the subsequent signing of the Anglo-Irish Agreement, a landmark document that established a framework for cooperation between the two governments.
• The New Ireland Forum: This chapter details the formation and work of the New Ireland Forum, a body established by the British and Irish governments to bring together representatives from all parties involved in the conflict. It examines the recommendations and proposals made by the forum and analyzes their impact on the political landscape.
• The Anglo-Irish Agreement: This chapter examines the signing of the Anglo-Irish Agreement in 1985, a significant step towards establishing a new framework for resolving the conflict in Northern Ireland. It highlights the key provisions of the agreement, such as the role of the Irish government in Northern Irish affairs, and explores the reactions of both communities to its implementation.
• Towards the Peace Process: This chapter discusses the developments that led to the eventual shift towards a peace process in Northern Ireland. It explores the changing dynamics of the conflict, the emergence of new political forces, and the growing pressure for a negotiated settlement.

Keywords

The key terms and concepts explored in this term paper include the Northern Irish conflict, the Troubles, British government policy, intergovernmental approaches, the New Ireland Forum, the Anglo-Irish Agreement, and the historical and political dimensions of the conflict. The paper also examines the role of religion, identity, and socio-economic factors in perpetuating the conflict.

• College: University of Leipzig
• Course: Hauptseminar "Northern Irish Women's Writing"
• Grade: 2,0
• Author: Annerose Baumann (Author)
• Publication Year: 2008
• Pages: 15
• Catalog Number: V165571
• ISBN (eBook): 9783640812769
• ISBN (Book): 9783640812615
• Language: English
• Tags: northern, ireland, decade, failed, attempts, hardened, fronts