Northern Ireland's Lost Opportunity

Tony Novosel

Description

Rejecting the dominant narratives of the Troubles, this is a unique in-depth investigation into working-class Loyalism in Northern Ireland, as represented by the Ulster Volunteer Force (UVF), the Red Hand Commando (RHC) and their political allies.



In an unorthodox account, that disputes the idea that loyalism was apolitical and sectarian, Tony Novosel argues that loyalist groups, seen as implacable enemies by Republicans and the left, developed a political analysis of the Northern Ireland conflict in the 1970s which involved a compromise peace with all political parties and warring factions - something that historians and writers have largely ignored.



Distinctive, deeply informed and provocative, Northern Ireland's Lost Opportunity is the first study to focus not on the violent actions of the UVF/RHC but on their political vision and programme which, Novosel argues, undeniably contributed to the Conflict Transformation Process, by upholding the potential for a viable peace based on compromise with all groups, including the Irish Republican Army.
Abbreviations

Glossary Of Terms

Acknowledgements

Preface And Overview

Introduction

1. The Ulster Volunteer Force And O’Neill

2. Manipulation, Acquiescence And Awakening

3. The Prison Experience And Loyalist Politics

4. The Emerging Light: Political Loyalism, 1973-1975

5. Darkness At The End Of The Tunnel: The Failure Of Politics

6. The Light In The Darkness: Political Loyalism, 1975-1977

7. Sharing Responsibility: 1977-1987

Conclusion

Bibliography

Index

Sujets

• Political Science
• Irlanda del Norte
• Northern Ireland
• History of Europe
• Irlande du Nord

Informations

• Publié par: Pluto Press
• Date de parution: 07 janvier 2013
• Nombre de lectures: 0
• EAN13: 9781849648073
• Langue: English

Extrait

Northern Ireland’s Lost Opportunity

First published 2013 by Pluto Press 345 Archway Road, London N6 5AA
www.plutobooks.com
Distributed in the United States of America exclusively by Palgrave Macmillan, a division of St. Martin’s Press LLC, 175 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10010
Copyright © Tony Novosel 2013
The right of Tony Novosel to be identified as the author of this work has been asserted by him in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.
British Library Cataloguing in Publication Data A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library
ISBN 978 0 7453 3310 6 Hardback ISBN 978 0 7453 3309 0 Paperback ISBN 978 1 8496 4806 6 PDF eBook ISBN 978 1 8496 4808 0 Kindle eBook ISBN 978 1 8496 4807 3 EPUB eBook
Library of Congress Cataloging in Publication Data applied for



This book is printed on paper suitable for recycling and made from fully managed and sustained forest sources. Logging, pulping and manufacturing processes are expected to conform to the environmental standards of the country of origin.
10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
Typeset from disk by Stanford DTP Services, Northampton, England Simultaneously printed digitally by CPI Antony Rowe, Chippenham, UK and Edwards Bros in the United States of America
One of the great lessons out of this whole [Northern Ireland Peace Process] process, which may be incidental to the result, but nonetheless important in human terms, is the capacity for personal redemption. The ability of people who have made serious, tragic errors, violent errors, committed brutal atrocities; to accept responsibility, to be punished for it, to accept their punishment and then to change, genuinely change.
George Mitchell
Contents

Acknowledgements
Abbreviations
Glossary of Terms
Preface and Overview
Introduction
1 The Ulster Volunteer Force and O’Neill


1965–66: The UVF and the UPV
1966–69: Civil rights to civil war
1969: The end of O’Neill
1970: The Red Hand Commando
1972: Reorganisation of the UVF
Conclusion
2 Manipulation, Acquiescence and Awakening


50 years of misrule
Radicalism and reaction
Manipulation and acquiescence
The awakening and the split
Conclusion
3 The Prison Experience and Loyalist Politics


The Long Kesh university
Gusty Spence
Spence University
Engagement
The Camp Council
The Downtown Office scheme
Conclusion
4 The Emerging Light: Political Loyalism, 1973–75


Introduction
The rise of politics
‘Enlightened Ulstermen’
The demise of the VPP
Conclusion
5 Darkness at the End of the Tunnel: The Failure of Politics


Provisional Republicanism
Protestant attitudes and the Protestant working class
British policies: Criminalisation, Ulsterisation, marginalisation
Unionism and Loyalism
The ‘red scare’
TARA and MI5
Conclusion
6 The Light in the Darkness: Political Loyalism, 1975–77


Politics of compromise
The Spence Oration 12 July 1977
Remembrance Day speech 1977
Conclusion
7 Sharing Responsibility: 1977–87


Sharing responsibility, 1985
The Anglo–Irish Accord
War or peace? Conflict or conference?
The Unionist Task Force
Conclusion
Conclusion: The Lost Opportunity
Notes
Bibliography


Secondary sources
Primary sources
Index
Acknowledgements

Any time anyone takes on a project of this scope there is no way the author can take full credit for the completed work. I received a great deal of help from many people, from those who supplied me with moral support to those who read various versions of this manuscript. This is my humble attempt to thank them all.
I cannot thank my ‘partner’, Alice Cottone, enough. She has been amazing throughout the whole writing process over the past two years and she has been a rock. She gave me the space to do my ten- to twelve-hour writing days; many times bringing over food or making sure I stepped away from the manuscript when necessary. Without her support, there is no way I could have finished this book.
A special thanks goes out to all those who agreed to do interviews. They gave up freely of their time, providing insights and first-hand knowledge of this period.
Billy Hutchinson was absolutely crucial to this work. It was my chat in 2007 with Billy that refocused me and convinced me to continue with this work. His intervention was also crucial in getting access to individuals and materials that underpin this work.
I can never repay William Mitchell, Aaron Edwards, Richard Reed and Sean Brennan for the amount of time and work they put in with me. They read through various parts and/or all of the manuscript, even while doing work on their own Ph.D.’s and/or holding down full-time jobs. Each of them also gave up their time to meet and talk at length about this work.
Mark Williamson deserves many thanks. He arranged a talk for me in October of 2009 on the Shankill Road, which then led to a series of talks over the next two years. This proved invaluable as it enabled me to organise and create the structure of this book.
Dawn Purvis deserves special mention here also. Beyond providing me with an interview, she also went out of her way to meet with me and talk for hours with me about this work.
It is safe to say, that without Roy Garland, his work on Spence and his help this book would not exist. Roy’s personal encouragement, his comments, and help with materials were essential for this effort.
Graham Spencer and Peter Shirlow deserve special mention. Their work inspired me to begin this project and also informed my analysis. Both provided a great deal of help in the formulation of this work, especially my proposal.
Henry Sinnerton was also a great help. Henry’s work on David Ervine helped me a great deal as did the many discussions we had together.
I must also include Graham Walker and Eamon Phoenix here. Graham’s friendship, encouragement, and work on Unionism have been invaluable. Eamon’s support throughout has been crucial to my staying focused on this work.
To ‘Big’ Jon McCourt – what can I say? He and I have spent many hours together talking and talking about everything related to the politics and history of Northern Ireland/Ireland. These meetings were so important to my knowledge and my development.
To Jeanette and Mark Ervine, who spent so much time sharing their lives with me, thank you so much. Your friendship and help was invaluable.
I want to thank Monica McWilliams. Her belief in me and her great support over the years has made all the difference. Thank you.
Harry Donaghy and all those around the Messines Project in Belfast deserve special mention. Many is the time I sat with Harry and others at the John Hewitt suffering from self-doubt. Through the intense Friday afternoon discussions over the past four years, Harry, among others, encouraged me to carry on and gave me great insights, thoughts to consider and criticisms I could not ignore. I must also mention Frank, Beef, Joe, Brendan, Joe, Kerry, Gerry, Kevin, Tom, Tommy, Marty, Mark, Danny, Laurence, Florence, Brenda, Andy and the many others who regularly meet at the Hewitt on a Friday afternoon. I hope I have left no one out.
I cannot leave out Mairead Collins. She was instrumental in helping me with the transcripts and without her aid I would still be doing them, and this book would be another few years down the road. Our mutual friend Margaret Hagan deserves mention also. We have worked together since 2006 with Margaret always providing critical and probing questions and forcing me to focus my argument.
Sarah McAuliffe-Bellin has been a great support through this. She has engaged me intellectually from the start and has given me the opportunity to present my research in America.
Louis Edmondson also deserves my thanks. His skeptical views and sharp questions forced me to ensure that my argument was a strong and valid one, and that it could hold up to the harshest criticisms.
I would also like to thank the staff of the Linen Hall Library’s Northern Ireland Political Collection and microfiche sections. They were a great help in getting the materials I needed for my research.
Two people who really deserve my thanks are Tony and Karen. Over the past four years, they have given me unlimited use of their house in Belfast and, more importantly, their friendship. Dennis also deserves thanks. In 2007, he provided me with a place to stay and introduced me to some people who became very important in the completion this book.
Special and heartfelt thanks to my brother Mike, sisters Rose and Anita, and especially my father, Tony, for support throughout my life and this project.
Special thanks to my roommates in Belfast in 2009, Erin Hinson, Lisa Monahan and Jasmine Kurjakovic. You were all wonderful and a great source of inspiration.
I must thank everyone at the University of Pittsburgh’s Department of History. The support I received in the department helped make this book possible. In particular, four individuals, Bernie Hagerty, Bill Chase, Rob Ruck and Reid Andrews deserve my appreciation for their help and support. In particular Bill, as he has done since I first met him in 1987, went above and beyond the call of duty. He took the entire manuscript, corrected punctuation, grammar and style, and pointed out inconsistencies and weaknesses while also providing very good suggestions for strengthening the book.
Finally, I want to thank all my close friends in Belfast and Derry/Londonderry, many of whom now go back nearly 40 years with me and who wish to remain nameless; thanks for all your friendship and support. For many others in Belfast and Derry/Londonderry who I have gotten to know, thanks so much for your friendship and support over the years. If I tried to list everyone, it would go on for pages.
A final thanks to all the people who saved me from making errors in this work. I appreciate all your help. If any errors do remain, they are my responsibility and mine alone.
Abbreviations