The Edge of the Union

Publishing on Orange Day, 12 July

On the 25th anniversary of the Northern Ireland 'Troubles', the Ulster Loyalists are alienated people. Here, the author provides insights into the Loyalist world-view. Describing the troubles as an ethnic conflict, he argues that failure to take into account the strength and importance of the loyalist identity will scupper the chances of peace.On the twenty-fifth anniversary of the Northern Ireland Troubles, Ulster's once dominant unionists are an increasingly alienated people. In this timely assessment of the prospects for peace, Steve Bruce examines the embittered world-view of two key sections of Ulster unionism: loyalist terrorists and the evangelical supporters of Ian Paisley. To get to the heart of the unionist position, he asks how they see the last twenty-five years, what they want from the future, what they think they will get, what they will accept, and what they will fight to oppose. Professor Bruce describes the Troubles as a deeply entrenched ethnic conflict. He argues that a failure to appreciate the strength of the loyalist identity has prevented a proper understanding of the Troubles, and that continued neglect of the majority makes strategies for peace pointless or counter-productive.