Problems of Class, Religion and Ethnicity: A Study of the Relationship between Irish Republicans and the Protestant Working Class during the Ulster ‘Troubles’ 1969–1994

Abstract

Throughout the Northern Ireland Troubles, discussion of class politics tended to be eclipsed by attention to unionist–nationalist conflict. Debate on the role of class, however, has represented an important strain in academic reflection on the conflict. With the Troubles apparently over, there exists an opportunity to reflect on one key aspect of this subject: the failure of class politics to reach across religious divisions in Northern Ireland, in spite of attempts from socialists to do so. This article draws on new evidence from figures on both sides of the communal divide, and argues that socialism – as espoused by Irish republicans – was never likely to appeal to Protestants for a number of reasons. Perhaps the most prominent was a misunderstanding by republicans of Protestant working‐class politics and particularly the lack of interest in left wing politics by this group. The other main reason for this failure was that working‐class Protestants were hostile towards republican politics because of republican violence.