The intellectual internment of a conflict: The forgotten war in Northern Ireland

International Affairs

Volumn 75, Issue 1, 1999, Pages 77-97

  Smith, M L R ^a  

^a NONE

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EID: 0039521463     PISSN: 00205850     EISSN: None     Source Type: Journal    
DOI: 10.1111/1468-2346.00061     Document Type: Article

References (71)

1. Prime Minister, Statement to the House of Commons, 2 September 1998.
2. Sean O'Neill, 'First name terms as Adams and Trimble meet', Daily Telegraph, 11 September 1998.
3. Quoted in Martin Fletcher, 'Milestone as old foes sit for first assembly', The Times, 15 September 1998.
4. Quoted in Liam Clarke, 'Hume plea to IRA on arms', Sunday Times, 20 September 1998.
5. See e.g. Fred Halliday, Rethinking international relations (London: Macmillan, 1994); Rick Fawn and Jeremy Larkins, eds, International society after the Cold War (London: Macmillan, 1996).
6. See e.g. Fred Halliday, Rethinking international relations (London: Macmillan, 1994); Rick Fawn and Jeremy Larkins, eds, International society after the Cold War (London: Macmillan, 1996).
7. See e.g. David W. Ziegler, War, peace and international politics (Glenview, Ill: Scott, Foresman, 1990), pp. 149, 166.
8. Robin Luckham, 'Militarism: force, class and international conflict', in Michael Smith, Richard Little and Michael Shackleton eds, Perspectives on World Politics (London: Croom Helm, 1981), p. 358.
9. K. J. Holsti, International politics: a framework for analysis (Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice-Hall, 1995), p. 212.
10. Observer, 23 August 1998.
11. See e.g. Peter Willetts, 'Transnational actors and international organizations in global politics', in John Baylis and Steve Smith, eds, The globalization of world politics: an introduction to international relations (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1997), pp. 296-8.
12. See e.g. Frank Wright, Northern Ireland: a comparative analysis (Dublin: Gill & Macmillan, 1988); Adrian Guelke, Northern Ireland: the international perspective (Dublin: Gill & Macmillan, 1988).
13. See e.g. Frank Wright, Northern Ireland: a comparative analysis (Dublin: Gill & Macmillan, 1988); Adrian Guelke, Northern Ireland: the international perspective (Dublin: Gill & Macmillan, 1988).
14. For a robust critique of the discipline of terrorist studies see Edward Herman and Gerry O'Sullivan, The 'terrorism' industry: the experts and institutions that shape our view of terror (New York: Pantheon, 1989), esp. pp. 3-12, 37-51. See also Adrian Guelke, The age of terrorism and the international political system (London: I. B. Tauris, 1997).
15. For a robust critique of the discipline of terrorist studies see Edward Herman and Gerry O'Sullivan, The 'terrorism' industry: the experts and institutions that shape our view of terror (New York: Pantheon, 1989), esp. pp. 3-12, 37-51. See also Adrian Guelke, The age of terrorism and the international political system (London: I. B. Tauris, 1997).
16. For a survey of the definitional problems inherent in the discipline see Alex P. Schmid et al., Political terrorism: a new guide to actors, authors, concepts, data bases, theories and literature (Amsterdam: North Holland Publishing, 1988), pp. 1-29; Henry W. Prunkin, Shadow of death: an analytic bibliography on political violence, terrorism and low intensity warfare (Lanham, MD: Scarecrow Press, 1995), pp. 7-18.
17. For a survey of the definitional problems inherent in the discipline see Alex P. Schmid et al., Political terrorism: a new guide to actors, authors, concepts, data bases, theories and literature (Amsterdam: North Holland Publishing, 1988), pp. 1-29; Henry W. Prunkin, Shadow of death: an analytic bibliography on political violence, terrorism and low intensity warfare (Lanham, MD: Scarecrow Press, 1995), pp. 7-18.
18. To illustrate the inaccuracy of results obtained without an adequate definition of 'terrorism', see The literature of terrorism: a selectively annotated bibliography, compiled by Edward F. Mikolus (Westport, Conn.: Greenwood Press, 1980), pp. 185-95. Readers will note in the section on Ireland that works on politics, history and sociology are included irrespective of whether they remotely fit the description of 'terrorism'.
19. Fur an assessment of some of the key features of these debates see John Mackinlay, ed., A guide to peace support operations (Providence, RI:Thomas J. Watson Jr Institute for International Studies, Brown University, 1996), pp. 2-29; Aristide R. Zolberg, 'The specter of anarchy: African states verging on dissolution', Distent 39: 3, Summer 1992, pp. 303-11; 'Joint and combined operations in an expeditionary era', Defense Analysis Special Edition 14: 1, 1998; G. B. Helman and S. R. Retner, 'Saving failed states', Foreign Policy 89, Winter 1992-3; and David A. Lake and Donald Rothschild, 'Containing fear: the origins and management of ethnic conflict', International Security 21: 2, Fall 1996, pp 41-3.
20. Fur an assessment of some of the key features of these debates see John Mackinlay, ed., A guide to peace support operations (Providence, RI:Thomas J. Watson Jr Institute for International Studies, Brown University, 1996), pp. 2-29; Aristide R. Zolberg, 'The specter of anarchy: African states verging on dissolution', Distent 39: 3, Summer 1992, pp. 303-11; 'Joint and combined operations in an expeditionary era', Defense Analysis Special Edition 14: 1, 1998; G. B. Helman and S. R. Retner, 'Saving failed states', Foreign Policy 89, Winter 1992-3; and David A. Lake and Donald Rothschild, 'Containing fear: the origins and management of ethnic conflict', International Security 21: 2, Fall 1996, pp 41-3.
21. Fur an assessment of some of the key features of these debates see John Mackinlay, ed., A guide to peace support operations (Providence, RI:Thomas J. Watson Jr Institute for International Studies, Brown University, 1996), pp. 2-29; Aristide R. Zolberg, 'The specter of anarchy: African states verging on dissolution', Distent 39: 3, Summer 1992, pp. 303-11; 'Joint and combined operations in an expeditionary era', Defense Analysis Special Edition 14: 1, 1998; G. B. Helman and S. R. Retner, 'Saving failed states', Foreign Policy 89, Winter 1992-3; and David A. Lake and Donald Rothschild, 'Containing fear: the origins and management of ethnic conflict', International Security 21: 2, Fall 1996, pp 41-3.
22. Fur an assessment of some of the key features of these debates see John Mackinlay, ed., A guide to peace support operations (Providence, RI:Thomas J. Watson Jr Institute for International Studies, Brown University, 1996), pp. 2-29; Aristide R. Zolberg, 'The specter of anarchy: African states verging on dissolution', Distent 39: 3, Summer 1992, pp. 303-11; 'Joint and combined operations in an expeditionary era', Defense Analysis Special Edition 14: 1, 1998; G. B. Helman and S. R. Retner, 'Saving failed states', Foreign Policy 89, Winter 1992-3; and David A. Lake and Donald Rothschild, 'Containing fear: the origins and management of ethnic conflict', International Security 21: 2, Fall 1996, pp 41-3.
23. Fur an assessment of some of the key features of these debates see John Mackinlay, ed., A guide to peace support operations (Providence, RI:Thomas J. Watson Jr Institute for International Studies, Brown University, 1996), pp. 2-29; Aristide R. Zolberg, 'The specter of anarchy: African states verging on dissolution', Distent 39: 3, Summer 1992, pp. 303-11; 'Joint and combined operations in an expeditionary era', Defense Analysis Special Edition 14: 1, 1998; G. B. Helman and S. R. Retner, 'Saving failed states', Foreign Policy 89, Winter 1992-3; and David A. Lake and Donald Rothschild, 'Containing fear: the origins and management of ethnic conflict', International Security 21: 2, Fall 1996, pp 41-3.
24. John Whyte, Interpreting Northern Ireland (Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1990), p. viii.
25. The Supervisor of the authoritative Political Collection of the Linen Hall Library, Belfast, Robert Bell, was quoted in 1989 as describing Northern Ireland as the 'most documented conflict ever'. Quoted in W. D. Flackes and Sydney Elliott, Northern Ireland: a political directory, 1968-1988 (Belfast: Blackstaff, 1989), p. vii. A few years later he modified this view, contending that the Israeli-Arab conflict has probably generated more studies. See Anne Maguire, 'Living history through memorabilia', Irish Times, 7 July 1992.
26. The Supervisor of the authoritative Political Collection of the Linen Hall Library, Belfast, Robert Bell, was quoted in 1989 as describing Northern Ireland as the 'most documented conflict ever'. Quoted in W. D. Flackes and Sydney Elliott, Northern Ireland: a political directory, 1968-1988 (Belfast: Blackstaff, 1989), p. vii. A few years later he modified this view, contending that the Israeli-Arab conflict has probably generated more studies. See Anne Maguire, 'Living history through memorabilia', Irish Times, 7 July 1992.
27. Register of research on Northern Ireland (Centre for the Study of Conflict, University of Ulster, 1993).
28. To take two examples of otherwise broad, informative and authoritative assessments of the conflict which examine the politics, culture, economics and ideological aspects of the 'Troubles' yet neglect to look at the centrality of the military dimension, see Joseph Ruane and Jennifer Todd, The dynamics of conflict in Northern Ireland: power, conflict and emancipation (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1996) and John Whyte, Interpreting Northern Ireland (Oxford: Clarendon, 1990).
29. To take two examples of otherwise broad, informative and authoritative assessments of the conflict which examine the politics, culture, economics and ideological aspects of the 'Troubles' yet neglect to look at the centrality of the military dimension, see Joseph Ruane and Jennifer Todd, The dynamics of conflict in Northern Ireland: power, conflict and emancipation (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1996) and John Whyte, Interpreting Northern Ireland (Oxford: Clarendon, 1990).
30. A further illustration of this may be gained by keyword searches of library indexes which contain significant holdings of material on Irish history and politics. The following search results were obtained on 16 February 1998 by accessing two major university library websites. The number of library items held in response to each keyword search is indicated in brackets. The British Library of Political and Economic Science (http://www.blpes.lse.ac.uk): Keywords: Northern Ireland, Politics, Government (445); Northern Ireland, Social Conditions (324); Northern Ireland, History, Military, 1969-(1); Northern Ireland, History, Military (10): Ireland, History, Military, 20th Century (1);Violence, Ireland, History, 20th Century (0). University College, Dublin Library (http://www.ucd.ie/~library/): Keywords: Northern Ireland, Politics, Government (295); Northern Ireland, Social Conditions (103); Northern Ireland, History, Military, 1969-(8); Northern Ireland, Military, History (15); Ireland, History, Military, 20th Century (5);Violence, Ireland, History, 20th Century (23).
31. Register of research on Northern Ireland, entries: 'Loyalist politics and paramilitaries in Ulster', 185; 'Loyalist paramilitary ideologies in Northern Ireland', 190; and 'Violent politics: the role of violence in the political process of Ireland and Northern Ireland', 204.
32. Register of research on Northern Ireland, entries: 'Loyalist politics and paramilitaries in Ulster', 185; 'Loyalist paramilitary ideologies in Northern Ireland', 190; and 'Violent politics: the role of violence in the political process of Ireland and Northern Ireland', 204.
33. Register of research on Northern Ireland, entries: 'Loyalist politics and paramilitaries in Ulster', 185; 'Loyalist paramilitary ideologies in Northern Ireland', 190; and 'Violent politics: the role of violence in the political process of Ireland and Northern Ireland', 204.
34. Steve Bruce, The red hand: protestant paramilitaries in Northern Ireland (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1992).
35. J. Bowyer Bell, The secret army: the IRA, 1916-1979 (Dublin: Poolbeg, 1989), p. 459.
36. The Northern Ireland Political Collection of the Linen Hall Library, Belfast is the most important archive in this respect, being dedicated to the meticulous compilation of 80,000 items and nearly 1,500 periodicals, and provides a uniquely valuable and accessible resource for the analyst.
37. Combat, Ulster Volunteers (Belfast: Ulster Volunteer Force, 1974-).
38. Cockletown News, Joseph Cunningham Sinn Fein Cumann (Newtownabbey: Provisional Sinn Fein, 1975).
39. See e.g. Liz Curtis, Ireland: the propaganda war: the British media and the 'battle for hearts and minds' (London: Pluto, 1984); David Miller, Don't mention the war: Northern Ireland, propaganda and the media (London: Pluto, 1994).
40. See e.g. Liz Curtis, Ireland: the propaganda war: the British media and the 'battle for hearts and minds' (London: Pluto, 1984); David Miller, Don't mention the war: Northern Ireland, propaganda and the media (London: Pluto, 1994).
41. Arthur Aughey, Under siege: Ulster unionism and the Anglo-Irish agreement (London: Hurst, 1989), p. vii.
42. Bowyer Bell, The secret army, pp. 447-63.
43. See e.g. Robert Bell, Northern Ireland political periodicals 1966-1992: a bibliography of the holdings of the Linen Hall Library (Belfast: Linen Hall Library, 1994), pp. vi-vii; Northern Ireland political literature on microfiche, phase I, periodicals, 1966-1989 (Belfast: Linen Hall Library, 1993).
44. See e.g. Robert Bell, Northern Ireland political periodicals 1966-1992: a bibliography of the holdings of the Linen Hall Library (Belfast: Linen Hall Library, 1994), pp. vi-vii; Northern Ireland political literature on microfiche, phase I, periodicals, 1966-1989 (Belfast: Linen Hall Library, 1993).
45. John Garnert, Commonsense and the theory of international politics (London: Macmillan, 1984), p. 105.
46. Ibid., p. 105.
47. As a few scholars have shown in the past: see the work of Bruce, The red hand, and Richard Davis, Mirror hate: the convergent ideology of Northern Ireland paramilitaries, 1962-1992 (Aldershot: Dartmouth, 1994), esp. pp. 195-230.
48. As a few scholars have shown in the past: see the work of Bruce, The red hand, and Richard Davis, Mirror hate: the convergent ideology of Northern Ireland paramilitaries, 1962-1992 (Aldershot: Dartmouth, 1994), esp. pp. 195-230.
49. Padraig O'Malley, 'Reinterpreting Northern Ireland', Register of research on Northern Ireland, p. vi.
50. We may note here that many of these diverse approaches to the conflict were extant in the study of Northern Ireland for many years before they became intellectually fashionable in the discipline of international relations in the early 1990s.
51. For an illustration it is interesting to see how standard works on international affairs and security studies still compress these costly, destructive wars into generic terms like 'conflict in the third world'. See e.g. Ken Booth, ed., New directions in strategy and international security (London: HarperCollins, 1991).
52. Observe-Orientate-Decision-Action: a formula that excites much interest in contemporary military circles.
53. See notes 20 and 21 above.
54. See e.g. Jim Smyth, 'Poking at the entrails', Fortnight, November 1995.
55. Winston Churchill, House of Commons debates vol. 150, col. 1270, 16 February 1922. Cited in Conor O'Clery, Phrase make history here (Dublin: O'Brien Press, 1986), p. 76.
56. Winston Churchill, House of Commons debates vol. 150, col. 1270, 16 February 1922. Cited in Conor O'Clery, Phrase make history here (Dublin: O'Brien Press, 1986), p. 76.
57. Edward Pearce, 'One long piece of perplexity', Fortnight, June 1991.
58. Quoted in Jonathan Bardon, A history of Ulster (Belfast: Blackstaff, 1992), p. 48.
59. O'Malley, Register of research, p. vi.
60. This point has been very well made by Michael Cox, "'Cinderella at the ball": explaining the end of the war in Northern Ireland', Millennium 27: 1, 1998, pp. 325-6. Cox is one of the few scholars who has begun to look critically at some of the international issues a fleeting the study of Northern Ireland; see also Michael Cox, "'Bringing in the international"': the IRA ceasefire and the end of the Cold War'. International Affairs 73: 4, 1997.
61. This point has been very well made by Michael Cox, "'Cinderella at the ball": explaining the end of the war in Northern Ireland', Millennium 27: 1, 1998, pp. 325-6. Cox is one of the few scholars who has begun to look critically at some of the international issues a fleeting the study of Northern Ireland; see also Michael Cox, "'Bringing in the international"': the IRA ceasefire and the end of the Cold War'. International Affairs 73: 4, 1997.
62. M. L. R. Smith, 'Holding fire: the missing military dimension in the academic study of Northern Ireland', in Alan O'Day, ed., Terrorism's laboratory: the case of Northern Ireland (Aldershot: Dartmouth, 1995), pp. 233-7.
63. Ian Clark, Globalization and fragmentation: international relations in the twentieth century (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1997), p. 172.
64. For a general illustration see Michael E. Brown et al., eds, Nationalism and ethnic conflict (Cambridge, MA.: MIT Press, 1997).
65. Richard Betts, 'Should strategic studies survive?', World Politics 50: 1, October 1997, p. 22.
66. Smith, 'Holding fire', p. 237.
67. Malachi O'Doherty, The trouble with guns: republican strategy and the Provisional IRA (Belfast: Blackstaff, 1998).
68. Ibid., pp. 112-24, 156-200.
69. Ibid., pp. 118-23, 201-11.
70. Lawrence Freedman, 'After the Cold War', The Report, January 1993, p. 6.
71. Michael Howard, The lessons of history (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1993), p. 16.