The Role of Denomination in the Northern Ireland Conflict

Seminar paper from the year 2015 in the subject English Language and Literature Studies - Culture and Applied Geography, grade: 2,0, Ruhr-University of Bochum (Englisches Seminar), course: Perspectives on the Northern Ireland Conflict, language: English, abstract: In my paper I would like to investigate on the question whether the Northern Ireland Conflict really has to do with the `denominational conflict` or whether this is just part of the issue. I would like to argue that the causes for the conflict cannot be reduced to the religious component only. Moreover, it is important to have a look on power and politics in Northern Ireland to be able to discuss the conflict and its consequences. My purpose here is to give a brief historical account of Ireland and Britain, then proceed synchronically by reference to present interests, ideologies and identities. Here, I will only briefly outline the issues and problems people were faced with. The main part of my investigation will cover the analysis of the conflict with the main focus being on religion. Therefore, I will start with the examination of the importance of religion in the Northern Ireland conflict. After introducing the concept of community which is essential for the interpretation, further dimensions including ethnicity, settler and native, nationalism and unionism will be analyzed. Finally, my inquiry will close with pointing out the connection and contribution of the different aspects to the conflict.