The Legacy of Fear in Northern Ireland

Abstract

Northern Ireland has experienced a prolonged period of terrorism and political violence in which more than 3600 people were killed and 100,000 injured. Despite much progress including a political agreement between the main political parties in 1998 with the signing of the Belfast/ Good Friday Agreement and its subsequent endorsement by the people of both Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland, the decommissioning of paramilitary weapons and a reduction in the types and amount of political violence, Northern Ireland remains troubled. This chapter is concerned with the legacy of fear in Northern Ireland and starts with a discussion of the ongoing threat posed by Northern Ireland-related terrorism. It examines a number of historical counter-terrorism measures such as internment and exclusion orders, which while designed to reduce political violence resulted in the creation of a ‘suspect community’, a community to be feared by the rest of society and watched closely by the state. Additionally, the chapter will explore a number of dimensions of fear, which contribute to the continued divided nature of Northern Irish society as evidenced by residential and educational segregation. Furthermore, it will consider the role of ‘othering’, a process involving the classification of individuals or groups as different and posing a threat to society.