Chapter 4: Conflict in Multi-Ethnic Societies

Northern Ireland- CAUSES OF CONFLICT in Northern Ireland

Factors involved: Divided Loyalties, Unequal allocation of housing, Unequal employment opportunities, Lack of voting rights, Education system, Separate Residential areas
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Identify: Divided Loyalties

Describe:

• The protestants regard themselves as british and want to remain part of UK(which is dominated by protestants)
• They celebrate the battle of Boyne where the protestant King of England defeated the Catholic ex-king of England.
• The Catholics want to remain part of the republic of Ireland
• They remember the long struggle by the Irish against the British.

Explain:

• This meant that the two communities were proud of their own achievement and were not willing to compromise with the other party.
• This brought about distrust and misunderstanding, leading to conflict.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Identify:Unequal allocation of housing

Describe:

• City councils providing houses to the people who consist largely of protestants.
• Priority was given to Protestants in the provision of houses.
• Example, in 1968, 71% of the local houses in Dungannon were given to Protestants although 53% of the people there were Catholics.

Explain:

• The Catholics were frustrated as they had to wait for a longer period of time to get their houses.
• They thought that the government was biased and hated the government, leading to conflict.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Identify: Unequal Employment Opportunities

Describe:

• The catholics, although academically qualified, were not able to get a job as easily as the Protestants.
• Example, There were relatively fewer catholics in the senior positions in public and private sectors.
• Example, The number of civil servants was not proportionate to the numbers in the country.

Explain:

• Catholics felt that they were discriminated against.
• This made them believe that the government was biased and only cared about the protestants.
• Thus, they went against the government, leading to conflict.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Identify: Lack of voting rights

Describe:

• Each household was enitiled to 2 votes each whereas the companies were entitled to more votes depending on their size.
• Since many big companies were owned by protestants they ended up having more votes than the Catholics.
• Since 1969, everyone is entitled to one votes as long as he is a British citizen. Thus, lack of voting rights is no longer an issue.

Explain:

• Since more Protestants get to vote, the Catholics were worried that more Protestants would come to power.
• The Caholics thought that the government was biased, leading to conflict.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Identify: Lack of Opportunities for Social Interaction

Describe:

• Protestant children attended government schools while Catholic children

To buy a hard copy of this book, contact us at

subjectresource@gmail.com