Abandoning Historical Conflict?: Former Political Prisoners and Reconciliation in Northern Ireland

Drawing on over 150 interviews with former IRA, INLA, UVF and UFF prisoners, this is a major analysis of why Northern Ireland has seen a transition from war to peace. Most accounts of the peace process are 'top-down', relying upon the views of political elites. This book, available for the first time in paperback, is 'bottom-up', analysing the voices of those who actually 'fought the war'. What made them fight, why did they stop and what are the lessons for other conflict zones?

Based on a Leverhulme Trust project and written by an expert team, the book offers a new analysis, based on subtle interplays of military, political, economic and personal changes and experiences. Combined, these allowed combatants to move from violence to peace whilst retaining core ideological beliefs and maintaining long-term constitutional visions.

Author: Peter Shirlow, Jon Tonge, James McAuley
Publisher: Manchester University Press
Published: 06/30/2012
Pages: 224
Binding Type: Paperback
Weight: 0.66lbs
Size: 9.21h x 6.14w x 0.44d
ISBN: 9780719087448

About the Author

Peter Shirlow is Senior Lecturer in the School of Law at Queen's University Belfast

Jon Tonge is Professor of Politics at the University of Liverpool

James McAuley is Professor of Sociology and Irish Studies at the University of Huddersfield