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Contemporary Northern Irish Society

Contemporary Northern Irish Society

Colin Coulter

(1999)

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Book Details

Abstract

This is a critical overview of the various sources of social and political identity in Northern Ireland. The book examines the key variables of sociology - status, class and gender and, in this case, ethno-religion - and explains why ethno-religious sentiment has become the principle source of political identity.

A range of themes are covered: the role and status of women; the representations of the conflict and peace process in the media; sport; and the importance of popular music.

'A very substantial and scrupulous social overview and recounting of the different views, interpretations and solutions of the troubles'
Books Ireland

Table of Contents

Section Title Page Action Price
Contents vii
Acknowledgements ix
Introduction 1
The formation of Northern Irish 3
Some words about words 8
1 The Nature of Division: Ethnicity, Nationalism and Sectarianism 10
Some definitions 10
The dimensions of ethnic division in Northern Ireland 12
Ethnicity and nationalism 43
A sectarian conflict? 51
Conclusion 59
2 The Significance of Social Class 61
The distribution of life chances 63
The other apartheid 72
Class as a social identity 76
Class as a political identity 78
Why ethnonational rather than class politics? 95
Conclusion 99
3 The Status and Position of Women 101
The domestic sphere of labour 102
The regulation of fertility 111
The public sphere: work 113
The public sphere: education 125
The public sphere: politics 130
Conclusion 148
4 Official Representations of the Conflict in Northern Ireland: The British State and the Media 149
The media and the outbreak of the troubles 150
Public relations and dirty tricks 152
Advertising for peace 157
Regulating the media 182
Keeping their own house in order : self- censorship and the reference upwards system 184
Media battles: Real Lives and Death on the Rock 190
Explicit censorship: the 1988 broadcasting ban 194
Conclusion 198
5 Alternative Representations of the Conflict in Northern 200
Ireland: Republican and Loyalist Murals The history of wall murals in Northern Ireland 202
Irish republicanism 206
Conclusion 253
Good times for a change? 253
References 258
Index 274
abortion 111 -13 111
academic performance 125
125-8 125