Reviewed by Sharon Greer
Belfast is the focal point of Mike Morrissey and Marie Smyth’s ponderous academic volume, Northern Ireland After the Good Friday Agreement: Victims, Grievance and Blame. Marie Smyth is Chief Executive of the Institute for Conflict Research, University of Ulster while Mike Morrissey is Director of the Urban Institute, University of Ulster.
The book examines the complications stemming from the Northern Ireland peace process through the implementation of the Good Friday Agreement. The difficulties that have pursued the peace process can only be understood in the context of the violence of the past, the continuing sectarian violence and in studying the dynamics of violence itself.
Morrissey and Smyth analyze some of the issues facing a society emerging from a 25-year war (1969-1994 ceasefires), and discuss some of the contradictions, dilemmas and monolithic numbers of unresolved issues. They probe a series of concerns and phenomena that have both shaped and been shaped by the dynamic of politics in the North.
The book basically presents the practical and analytical work involved in constructing a peaceful society in Northern Ireland. It is filled with innumerable tables of weighty statistics, however, the invaluable information it contains is well worth ploughing through.
Considering it is the civilian population who have suffered the most (as in every war), it is interesting to note that these people were not affiliated with any particular political party or paramilitary organization. And for those who may be interested in the numbers, the fatal incidents in Belfast by organization responsible are: British army -162; local security forces - 26; Republican paramilitaries - 720; and Loyalist paramilitaries - 621.
After awhile though all these tables and columns, figures and statistics start to become meaningless as the pain and suffering of the individuals affected begins to surface through the pages and the numbers melt into a sea of agony. It is worth spending time trying to understand and empathize with their great losses and the horrific impact these losses have had on their lives.
Northern Ireland has struggled for a very long time with a war which by world standards is considered small scale (El Salvador had almost 10 times the death rate), nonetheless, has left a good portion of its population acrimonious, divided and deeply angry at the end (hopefully) of a very bitter conflict.
While there are no easy answers, we can only hope, as the authors conclude in their monumental work, “Thus, the prospects for peace depend on the past and its losses being remembered painfully and well ... Perhaps the most important goal in work on victims and victimization in Northern Ireland is to foster the kind of remembering and understanding that deters from further violence. The achievement of that goal would indeed be a victory for both sides.”
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