The Hunger Strikes

Abstract

This chapter addresses how the infamous hunger strikes of 1980/1 were explained to national and international audiences. It considers the propaganda war waged between Irish republicans and the British government as each struggled to control how these events would be portrayed in the regional, national, but especially international arena. The chapter focuses on how the broadcast media tried to address the crisis unfolding at the Maze Prison in the face of withering criticism from the Thatcher government and its allies. The hostile reaction of the British public to news coverage of the hunger strikes is addressed as is the reaction of broadcasters who remained determined to provide accurate information about these events. The inability of the Thatcher government to successfully challenge the compelling republican narrative of an elected Member of Parliament starving himself to death in an effort to be recognized as a legitimate political prisoner is addressed. The chapter also explores how the hunger strikes were understood and presented in the international media. The sympathy the prison protest gained in much of the world is addressed as is the consternation this caused for the Thatcher government and its allies.