Ex-combatants and post-liberal peacebuilding in Northern Ireland: challenging cultures of militarism

Abstract

ABSTRACT This article analyses a programme in which an alliance of ex-combatants from the British Army, and loyalist and republican ex-prisoner backgrounds, engaged with young people about cultures of militarism in Northern Ireland. It argues that the alliance’s focus on cultures of militarism sets it apart from other ex-combatant groups; in particular its critique of state militarism alongside paramilitarism makes it a rare example of Richard Jackson’s ‘post liberal peace plus.’ It finds that the alliance could enhance its engagement with young people by developing a more comprehensive programme that expands on the gender dynamics of militarism and on non-violent alternatives to military and paramilitary action. Noting that most peacebuilding funding depends on state-based sources, it concludes that the very critique of state militarism that makes the alliance such a compelling example of ‘post-liberal peace plus’ limits its ability to secure resources, highlighting a key obstacle to building a radical post-liberal peace.