Abandoning Historical Conflict?

By a member of the Political Studies Association of Ireland

This is the definitive book on why those who ‘fought the war’ in Northern Ireland opted for peace. Drawing on over 150 interviews with former IRA and loyalist prisoners, this volume shows how the interplay of military fortunes, politics and societal changes contributed to the shift from war to peace..

Drawing on over 150 interviews with former IRA, INLA, UVF and UFF prisoners, this is a major analysis of why Northern Ireland has seen a transition from war to peace. Most accounts of the peace process are ‘top-down’, relying upon the views of political elites. This book is ‘bottom-up’, analysing the voices of those who actually ‘fought the war’. What made them fight, why did they stop and what are the lessons for other conflict zones?

Based on a Leverhulme Trust project and written by an expert team, the book offers a new analysis, based on subtle interplays of military, political, economic and personal changes and experiences. Combined, these allowed combatants to move from violence to peace whilst retaining core ideological beliefs and maintaining long-term constitutional visions.