Possibilities for change?: Diversity in post-conflict Belfast

Abstract

Belfast is often presented as an exemplary divided or post-conflict city. However, this focus can be limiting and an exploration of alternative narratives for Belfast is needed. This paper investigates the diversification of post-conflict Belfast in light of the substantial migration which has occurred in the last decade, outlining the complexities of an emerging narrative of diversity. We note discrepancies in how racial equality is dealt with at an institutional level and report on the unevenness of migrant geographies, issues which require future consideration. We also raise questions that problematize the easy assumption that cultural diversity ameliorates existing sectarian divisions.

Key words:

• migrant
• post-conflict
• Belfast
• diversity

Funding

This work was supported by the Northern Ireland Department of Employment and Learning (Carey Doyle), the Nuffield Foundation [Small Grant Scheme REF SGS/34428] and the Joseph Rowntree Foundation (Ruth McAreavey).

Notes

1 The paper draws on research with migrant communities that McAreavey has been conducting in Northern Ireland since 2005 and Doyle since 2012.

Data from 20 semi-structured interviews and 10 focus groups with migrants and with representatives from advocacy groups is used (for full details, see Wallace, McAreavey, and Atkin 2013; Irwin and McAreavey 2014). Most of the migrant research participants were recent arrivals to Northern Ireland. Although some have been living there for over 20 years, none had been born there. They include refugees and economic migrants from Eastern Europe, Asia and Africa. They work in professional positions, in skilled and unskilled jobs. Interviews and focus groups were recorded and transcribed, with interpreters being used where appropriate.

Consent was granted from all participants and the payment of an honorarium to migrant participants provided token recognition of their contribution. Data was analyzed and interpreted by reading and re-reading scripts, followed by a process of coding to identify and embed emerging issues (Boeije 2010).

A coding system is used to present the data. Data is presented according to the following key and in some cases pseudonyms are assigned to help make the analysis of certain incidents easier to follow:

Migrants

Focus Groups—#1, 2, 3, etc.; FG; gender; country of birth; date

Interviews—#1, 2, 3, etc.; I; gender; country of birth; date

Advocacy workers

#1, 2, 3, etc.; FG = focus group/I = interview; organization; gender; date.

2 The terms Protestant and Catholic are used to denote ethno-national identity in Northern Ireland. The use of these terms reflects the 2011 Census, wherein these categories are a response to the Census question ‘religion or religion brought up in’. The terms Protestant/Unionist and Catholic/Nationalist are generally synonymous. Like all identity Northern Irish identity is complex and reproduced.

3 As measured by ‘Country of Birth’ (COB); Census 2011 datasets KS204NI and KS201NI, 2001 Census datasets 201833 and 201837. Belfast Local Government District boundary is pre-reform of local government.

4 As measured by religion or religion brought up in, a census category which provides a measurement of Protestant or Catholic ethnic identity (KS212NI).

5 Section 75 of the 1998 (Belfast) Agreement requires public bodies to consider the impacts of their policies on equality and ‘good relations’ between groups.

6 On 3 December 2012, Belfast City Council voted to change its policy of flying the Union flag at City Hall. Whereas previously the flag was flown every day, it is now flown 18 days a year on particular holidays in line with UK government policy. Some of those of Unionist/Protestant identity interpreted this change as an attack on British identity. There have been ongoing protests which turned violent on occasion (Nolan 2013).

Additional information

Carey Doyle is a Doctoral Researcher at the School of Planning, Architecture and Civil Engineering at Queen's University, Belfast.

Ruth McAreavey is a Lecturer at the School of Planning, Architecture and Civil Engineering at Queen's University, Belfast. Email: [email protected]