Northern Ireland
The peace process in Northern Ireland has been the most successful of any entrenched conflict in recent history. Of course, that isn't saying much. But the change in the politics of the country, particularly in the mindset of republicans, has been remarkable -- going from the embrace of violent means of resistance to hope that the future lies with the ballot box, not the bomb trigger.
While the two sides remain at a stalemate as to the N. Ireland government, which was suspended after allegations of IRA spying, much of the terrorist violence against the British and Protestant police forces has stopped. However, that does not mean N. Ireland is a peaceful place. The IRA has come under steady attack over the last weeks and months for their alleged involvement in a bank heist and barroom murder. Their reputation has gone from being the heroes of the armed resistance to nothing more than thugs and murderers.
Sinn Fein, the IRA's alleged political wing, is now under enormous pressure to cut ties with and even disband the paramilitary group.
In 35 years of armed conflict, as the IRA fought the British security forces to a bloody stalemate, de Faoite would not have dreamed of criticizing the IRA. But now, he and other republicans -- hardline nationalists who believe force is justified to remove British influence from Ireland -- are saying openly what for them was once unthinkable.
''It's time for Sinn Fein to break from the IRA," said de Faoite, a 65-year-old construction company executive from the southern city of Tipperary. ''Politics is the only way to go now. That break should be made."
The lessons of N. Ireland certainly do not comport with any pacifist agenda. The injustices of British rule were met with violent resistance. And violent resistance, paradoxically, led to a semblance of peace.
But what is most interesting, and hopeful, is that the ballot box is now the stronger alternative to violence. Given a chance for participation in meaningful democracy, people committed to the violent overthrow of a government will, and have, accepted politics as the better solution. And despite all the problems with the Good Friday agreement and the stalled peace process, it is that mindset that gives me hope that true peace will come to N. Ireland.
posted by Sammy @ 11:22 AM
1 Comments:
Two excellent points.
I do, however, think that the cultural issues are a bit more complex than you've described. Ireland and Britain were not always similar countries. The Irish spoke a different language before the British occupation (and, as we saw this week, some portions of the country are holding fast to that language, posting street signs in only Irish). Ireland was conquered repeatedly by a number of foreign powers; the sun never set on the British empire. The political culture of Ireland was one of an occupied power. The British culture was one of world dominance.
Basically, Ireland's culture was assimilated into Britain's. That's why the two countries share these similarities. And that raises a more difficult point -- does peace require that we're all alike? Did the British occupation of Ireland, and the cultural assimilation that followed, create the conditions for peace today?
I think the lessons of N. Ireland are more applicable than you imply. A group of people whose country was occupied for centuries, who have had their culture and their language stripped from them, can still come to accept a government with the people who acted as their oppressors. That gives me hope for any entrenched conflict.
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