Northern Ireland 1968-2008: The Politics of Entrenchment

An in-depth examination of Irish nationalist and Ulster unionist politics during the Northern Ireland conflict. Based on newly released archival material, Cillian McGratten addresses the crucial question of how the choices of political actors influenced the emergence and persistence of the 'Troubles'. As such, he provides a fundamental reappraisal of the role of the British and Irish states and the main political parties during the conflict. The Northern Ireland case study provides a lens through which he engages with wider academic debates regarding ethno-nationalist conflicts and settlement processes. The book breaks new ground in asking how path-dependency theory illuminates a troublesome nationalist arena, how policymaking contributes to long-term polarisation and entrenchment, and what these historical legacies mean for how once violent societies deal with their past and tackle their transitions to peace.