A History Of Violence In Ireland (AUDIO)

Following two recent attacks by Irish Republican Army (IRA) splinter groups, Northern Ireland is on edge, fearing a return to the "Troubles" -- the decades of violence that killed more than 3,300 people until the 1998 Good Friday peace accord.

In the first attack, the Real IRA gunned down two British soldiers -- the first British troops killed in Northern Ireland in 12 years. The following day, the Continuity IRA killed a member of the Police Service of Northern Ireland. Both groups have vowed to continue their operations until Northern Ireland is no longer part of the United Kingdom.

The attacks shook the province's coalition government of Protestants and Catholics, many of whom disagree on who should rule Northern Ireland -- Ireland or the United Kingdom. In the wake of the attacks, thousands have gathered for peace rallies across the country.

Worldfocus.org's weekly radio show explored the history of violence in Northern Ireland and the current political and cultural situations there, examining life in the conflict-torn province and prospects for the future.

Worldfocus anchor Martin Savidge hosted a panel of guests:

- Paul Arthur is a professor of politics and director of the graduate program in peace and conflict studies at the University of Ulster. Among his books are "Northern Ireland Since 1968" and "Special Relationships: Britain, Ireland and the Northern Ireland Problem." He has contributed to the Times, New York Times, Observer, Sunday Independent and Guardian.

- Kevin Cullen has reported for The Boston Globe since 1985. In August 1997, he opened the Globe's Dublin bureau, which marked the first time a major American newspaper based a staff reporter in Ireland. Cullen travels to Northern Ireland frequently writing about the conflict. He has spent more time in, and written more about, Northern Ireland than any reporter for an American newspaper.

- Honor Fagan is a lecturer in sociology at the National University of Ireland, Maynooth. She has previously worked at the University of Ulster and has carried out research and published in the subject areas of gender, development, cultural politics and identity formation. She is the author of "Culture, Politics and Irish School Dropouts: Constructing Political Identities."

Comments

[JustAThought56]

The problem is that the political structures are still partially grounded in history and not in an equalizing and unifying political ideology. The failure to fully make the break during the "Celtic Tiger" period was a mistake. Certainly, as the economy deteriorates there will be a rise in violence in any case, and all that poverty-induced social unrest needs is a cause to hang its hat on.

The English and the English alone prop up the union the North. The resulting conflict has defined both the North and the South. They need to either make a home on English soil for the 1 million descendants of the Scottish Protestants they planted there centuries ago or fully relinquish their grip on the North. The military perpetuation of English colonialism has never failed to bring violence to the country unfortunate enough to host it.

The Irish political structure needs to be scrubbed clean of Catholic ideology, with the full support and cooperation of the Vatican.

The first step towards a true sense of national identity has to be the separation of church and state. That makes possible the second step, a full commitment towards the establishment and preservation of a progressive, pluralist and liberal state united around ideals that recognize the equal rights of all.

[evagorman]

It may be small numbers of people in these two groups, but there are many thousands of people who still very much want the English out of Ireland. Ireland must be united once and for all and forever.

It's horrible and inexcusable that these people were murdered. However, it has reminded the world that the English are still somewhere they do not belong.

One Ireland.

[Londoncall]

Sorry, but your comment just shows your ignorance of the situation. The "English" are not in Ireland. Northern Ireland is a part of the UK, (ie with England, Scotland and Wales) because that is what the population voted for. The soldiers are there because there is still a threat (as has just been proved) from breakaway Irish republicans, who have very minimal public support, as you would know if you saw the protests over the murders of the soldiers and policeman, who was a local man and a Catholic.

Northern Ireland, like many other places around the world is the way it is because of history, which cannot be undone, so you have to move forward from the current situation.

Incidentally, at the time of the agreement ten years ago, I participated in a Northern Irish forum because I wanted to know what local people felt about it. What I found was that, not matter what side of the fence the Irish people were on, they were all pretty much united in their mockery of the plastic paddies spouting cliches from across the Atlantic.

[evagorman]

Something tells me you're not really sorry. My comment indicates that I feel the English do not belong there. It is my opinion. I choose to NOT recognize that this place you call "Northern Ireland" is a part of the UK. I choose to see only one Ireland.
It's just unfinished business. That part of Ireland belongs with the rest of Ireland and the foreign military needs to leave the area.
I saw the peace vigils and know that there were many of them. BUT just because many people stood in silence because they were saddened by these deaths and/or disagreed with the violence, it does not mean that MANY people there still want the British soldiers to leave. It means they want non violence. It means they want it to happen peacefully. It does not mean that they are passive, good little puppies.
Pretty funny for an Englishman to refer to me as a "plastic paddie". I can assure you that my friends in Belfast would rather have my support than yours.