Young Unionists in Northern Ireland: Using Political Violence in a Search for Identity

"Understanding Terrorism and Political Violence –

The Role of Victims and Perpetrators"

University College Cork, 30 March 2015

Young Unionists in Northern Ireland:

Using Political Violence in Search for Identity

Cathrin Ruppe

Université Rennes 2

[email protected]

Cathrin Ruppe1 30 March 2015

Starting Point for Research

Belfast “Flag Protests” 2012/2013




• Majority of Unionist protesters were young people

• Rioting might be due to “boredom” or thrill-seeking

• But: Strong undercurrent of sectarianism

Why does a generation born and/or raised after

the Good Friday Agreement reacts so

strongly and violently to political changes?


Questions of Identity

Good Friday Agreement (1998)

• Support by Protestants fluctuated and stood at 57% at time of

referendum

• Both communities recognize Northern Ireland as part of the

United Kingdom.

• Citizens of Northern Ireland can identify themselves as

Irish, British or both.

� For Unionists, this means “that the Britishness in Ireland must be

negotiated, not imposed” (D. Morrow)

� Unionists fear a loss of identity



But what is identity actually?

Relevant for this research: Social identity

• System of orientation to help and create an individual’s position in society

• Concept of ‘self’ by inclusion in social groups

• The social groups offer clues regarding emotional, evaluative and • The social groups offer clues regarding emotional, evaluative and

psychological correlations

• People are naturally motivated to evaluate themselves positively

• Evaluation is based on comparison to other people/groups

� People evaluate their social group positively and others more negatively



Identities in Northern Ireland

• Young people tend to “copy” social identities expressed by family and

friends (collective remembering)

Studies show:

• Parents and family members in NI deny influencing their children in terms

of social divisions and prejudices

• People who experienced the Troubles first-hand are actually more prone to

soften the boundaries of their national and social identity



Identities in Northern Ireland

• Deeply divided societies create strong social identities

• Young people have a higher need for social identification

• Perceived threats to one’s own social group (ingroup) and hence identity

can result in violence against the outgroupcan result in violence against the outgroup

What kind of (perceived) threats

could lead to violence by young Unionists?


Possible Reasons for Unionist Political Violence

• Economic factors

Recession, working-class backgrounds

• Education factors

Low regard for education

• Social factors

No / minimal contact to Catholics

• Political factors

Dissatisfaction with Unionist parties and British government


Possible Reasons for Unionist Political Violence

Good Friday Agreement (1998)

Northern Ireland stays part of the United Kingdom as long as the majority of

the people of Northern Ireland wished to remain a part of the UK

Census results (2001 -> 2012)


0

10

20

30

40

50

60

Identified as

Protestant

Identified as

Catholic

2001

2012

Conclusion

Question:

Why does a generation born and/or raised after the Good Friday Agreement

reacts so strongly and violently to political changes?

Possible Answer(s):

• Threats to Unionists’ social identity lead to the violent defence of the

former or perceived status quo

• Young people are prone to feel more insecure about status or relevance in

society

• Unionists feel ‘cheated’ by Good Friday Agreement as aftermath is not

what they hoped for / expected


Young Unionists in Northern Ireland: Using Political Violence in a Search for Identity

Documents

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