Mullholland - The Longest War.pdf - History and archaeology(1) - michalszasz121

The Longest

War

northern ireland’s troubled history

Marc Mulholland

Great Clarendon Street, Oxford ox2 6dp

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First published 2002

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ISBN 0–19–280292–5

13579108642

Typeset by ReﬁneCatch Ltd, Bungay, Suffolk

Printed in Spain by

Book Print S.L., Barcelona

Preface and Acknowledgements

The Troubles that broke out in Northern Ireland in 1968

proved that even liberal democratic institutions and a stand-

ard of living enviable in all but the wealthiest countries were

no proof against ethnic conﬂict in the contemporary age. In

a multicultural world, the Troubles raised profound ques-

tions regarding the willingness of peoples to live with one

another. The ability of law-bound states to cope with severe

public disorder under the glare of international attention

was sorely tested.

This introduction takes a historical perspective, but in

doing so it does not suggest that the conﬂict is primeval or

beyond reason. That Catholics in Ulster feel Irish, and Prot-

estants feel British, and that both countenance violence to

vindicate their identities, is not peculiar. The twentieth cen-

tury attests to the willingness of many peoples to ﬁght, kill,

and die to preserve their national way of life. This national-

ism does not have a very long history. In the pre-modern age

‘nation’ meant little more, often less, than religion, clan, or

region. But nor is it yet a thing of the past. Almost every state

in the world bases itself upon a shared sense of belonging

and mutual obligation that is patriotic or nationalistic. It is

hard to imagine democracy operating otherwise. Almost

every government strives to defend its national culture

against erosion, and puts the welfare of its people before all.

Northern Ireland’s tragedy is that its people have not been

Mullholland - The Longest War.pdf

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