Introduction to Belfast Lecture at Queen's University, Irish Studies
Thursday, May 17, 2007 at 1:30 PM
Speaker: Dominic Bryant
Speaker background:
Anthropologist, English, lived in Northern Ireland for 20years. Interest in Public celebration and public space.
Believes this is not the same conflict that has been going on for 400 years, unlike many books. Protestants moved to Ireland 400 years ago, but the conflict has changed since.
Introduction to Belfast: Division. Conflict.
Politics
Conflict around identity. Switzerland, Belgium, and Canada all have similar identity situations that do not result in violence.
Northern Ireland is interesting because two sides are very close and friendly to each other.
Geography
South - Middle class
West - Working, 90% Catholic
East - 90% Protestant
North - Patchwork
All cities have cultural geographical divisions. Particular to Belfast..
Good harbor and good dock
In 1820 the size of Nury (sp?) now
Initially Presbyterian city (Scottish)
At turn of century, rebellious, later became the center unionist ideas
This change came from Industrial Revolution. After had more in common with British port cities than Irish.
Become Unionists for economic reasons, want to keep connections.
After potato famine South Irish moved to industrial cities, London, NY, Belfast
In Belfast discriminations are started as protestants in the city did not want incoming cheep labor threatening their jobs.
During economic downtimes tensions increase
Ulster Volunteer Force set up to ensure Ulster remained part of Britain
Rioting cause more segregation
Belfast becomes capital of Northern Ireland, its own state
History note, Seattle put Belfast out of business by building planes that took away from Cruise Liner business
Discrimination
- Gerrymandering
- Housing
- Jobs - Fathers give sons apprenticeships to sons to maintains elite position in work force
1960's start seeing an educated Catholic middle class
1966 - 50 years of conflict, lots of rioting
Civil Rights movement did not happen in Belfast, happened in Derry
Ethnic cleansing, house burning
IRA and UVF not strong at this time
British Parliament introduced holding w/o trial
Bloody Friday - IRA planted bombs, Unionists believe Gerry Adams [http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=%22Gerry+Adams%22&btnG=Search] planned
Did not escalate to points of other countries b/c cultures were already very divided, different schools, no intermarriage, etc.
Start building walls, many put up since peace process started
Conflicts have gone down
Policing by Boundaries
Physical housing division, policy
RUC reformed to PSNI, better police
Policy changes, build everything twice
Two "communities", that are basically the same, not two different cultures
Gate keepers
Other policing - IRA police in Catholic areas, UVF similar to IRA, UDA (Ulster Defense Assoc) to protect Protestant areas (clenched red fist)
UVF and UDA also fight over territory
Self Policing - school uniforms tell what type of school go to, might walk to another bus stop with less protestant kids or take a cab that avoids crossing boundaries
Change
Process of demilitarizing and painting over paramilitary murals
