Ireland Colonialism and Terrorism

Ireland colonialism and terrorism Taking the case of the conflict in Northern Ireland, evaluate the thesis that the underlying cause is ‘settler colonialism’? According to the vast bulk of Northern Ireland literature, is it not a colony of Britain and the conflict there is not colonial in nature. There used to be a colonial relationship between Britain and Ireland (although a substantial portion see this as of little significance). – David Miller, 2016. “Settler colonialism is a form of invasion, wherein the colonial power has a specific intention to move its people onto the land and create a new society that mimics their home country in both standard of living and cultural homogeneity’ (DH DH’s). O Settler colonialism has received recent political attention, since the introduction of ‘settler colonial theory to disciplines such as anthropology, sociology and political theory’. • Conflict in Ireland and the history of the conflict Is the conflict in Northern Ireland fundamentally about religious divisions between Protestants and Roman Catholics? • Who’s to Blame? Mainstream political scientists: ‘The conflict is variously held to fundamentally theological, cultural, economic or ethnic. Some declare it is caused by the Irish Republic, some by Catholic Church, others by the political culture of Irish nationalism; and various permutations hold all three to be causal agents. Then there are those who blame the British state or British imperialism in Ireland, or British colonial settlement in Ireland, or the Protestant religions. Finally some argue for a plague on all the houses of Britain, Ireland and Northern Ireland, holding all the peoples of these islands (or their religions or economies or institutions ) culpable. ^ choose between some of these arguments? External explanations: - factors outside Ireland - The British state: colonialism and partition - The British state: neglect of Northern Ireland - The Irish state: irredentist nationalism Wanted to unite Ireland but caused issues Internal (endogenous) explanations: - Religion - Cultural differences - Social-economic inequalities Settler colonialism as a concept: Large numbers of people go and settle and effectively take it over. Distinct from colonialism which involves the specific form of occupation ‘Northern Ireland is not an example of religious conflict, although doctrinal differences play an important role in defining the main opposing political aspirations. It is perfectly reasonable to analyse it was a plural society, with one dominant and one subordinate ethnic group. Wholly inadequate to subtract it from its historical and global context. The parallels with settler societies illuminate the picture, although it is not claimed here that Northern Ireland’s history as a settler colony explains the whole situation. No explanation which ignores this fact, however, can be complete.’ (Clayton) Northern Ireland is a settler colony essential. Cromwell’s view on on Catholics in Ireland: ‘Catholicism is more than a religion, it is a political power, therefore I’m led to believe there will be no peace in Ireland until the Catholic Church is crushed’ - Parallels between this conception of catholics and the contemporary conception of Muslims in war and terror - Rethinking Northern Ireland: Culture, Ideology and Colonialism (David Miller, 2014) British left appeared to be reluctant to discuss the conflict. ‘If Northern Ireland is a colony, how could so many academic ‘experts’ get their analyses so comprehensively wrong?’ - Miller looks at arguments for and against colonialism as an explanation: Northern Ireland as a colony: NI = colony of Great Britain, but does not mean that the conflicts is ‘colonial’ Ireland was ruled by Britain for a long time prior to the processes generally identified as colonialism and imperialism and some writers have referred to Ireland as a whole as an integral part of British attempts at nation-building. Religion and ethnicity: Northern Ireland as an ‘ethnic conflict’ in which religion is an important element. “Northern Ireland: troubles brewing- (Landon Hancock) The troubles, as they are known to the populace, did not erupt on any specific date, but emerged as the result of several years of escalating incidents between Catholics and Protestants. This latest episode of the long-standing conflict between Catholics and Protestants in Northern Ireland has been going on for X years. From the time of the civil rights marches in 1968, the cost in both human and material terms, has been steadily mounting. Between 1968 and 1994, over 3500 people died and over 35,000 were injured in Northern Ireland, as a direct result of the fighting. Robberies, bombings, assassinations and terror tactics spread to engulf Great Britain and the Irish Republic, greatly decreasing the common person’s sense of security and impinging on the population’s personal freedom. Civil rights in Northern Ireland have been seriously eroded, and freedom uni the name of safety has been sacrificed to some extreme in both Great Britain and the Irish Republic. Economy of Northern Ireland has also been deeply affected by the ongoing conflict. Manufacturing employment in Northern Ireland has declined by over 40% since the beginning of the conflict, increasing the province’s dependence on Great Britain. Settler colonialism is still a reality: - It is a form of colonisation where a settler society entirely or partially replaces an indigenous people on their land. This visual highlights some of the territories subject to significant settler colonial projects, past and present: USA/Canada= dominated by settler population Lapland Palestine Northern Ireland is not an example of religious conflict, although doctrinal differences play an important role in defining the main opposing political aspirations. Plural society- one dominant and one subordinate ethnic group Wholly adequate to subtract it from its historical and global context The parallels with settler societies illuminate the picture, although it is not claimed here that Northern Ireland’s history as a settler colony explains the whole situation. No explanation which ignores this fact can be complete. (Clayton) reading: Northern Ireland is not only a problem because of the conflict and lack of political progress, it is also a problem about which theoretical questions can be asked and for which an explanatory framework can be sought. Well known division between Protestants and catholics, the idea that conflict is religious deserves careful consideration - The colonial background: With a few exceptions, British imperial theorists have paid little attention to Ireland, which is curious considering that it was Britain’s oldest and longest-held colony; and the few who do largely ignore the large settler minority in the north and the effects of colonisation on the Catholic Irish. Both Marxists and republicans have focused on imperialism as the cause of the Northern Ireland’s ills. Settler colonialism= foreign people move into a region Imperial power oversees the immigration of these settlers Settlers take over the land left over by previous residents Colonisation by other means: consequences of peace agreements in Northern Ireland and Palestine: (O’Flynn, 2019) A common practice in both international and interpersonal conflict is to bring opposing parties to the table to negotiate differences- a goal for many international peace processes- seen as a step towards peace and conflict resolution through compromise. Dynamics exist between governments and citizens/ majorities and minorities/ colonisers and colonised The preservation of settler colonial power dynamics in the cases of Northern Ireland is due in parent to the involvement of the American and British empires forming the colonised people (Irish Catholics/ Republicans) to negotiate their respective agreements from a point of weakness. = unjust agreements in Good Friday Agreement in Northern Ireland. (Historical background) ‘The plantations of Ulster- often cited as the first official, policy-based instance of settler colonialism in Ireland- were settled in early 17th century, a full century before the Act of Union (1707)- which incorporated Scotland into Great Britain and nearly two centuries before a similar act brought Ireland into UK (1800).’ England maintained a presence in Ireland (but power fluctuated with that of the Irish/Gaelic chieftains. English promoted settler colonialism to gain control of the island, ‘dispossessing anyone who attacked the crown and replacing them with thousands of Scottish settlers in order to ensure British dominance on the island’. 1607- Catholic leaders began to flee for fear of persecution and settlement of their land in Donegal, Tyrone, Derry and Armagh began. ‘While the Government of the south attempted to build a new state and repair its relationship with its closest neighbour, Irish Catholics in the newly-established Northern Ireland grew more intensely oppressed politically, economically and socially’ (Diarmaid Ferriter, 2016) “bullets and ballot boxes BBC history magazine” - In retaliation/ attempt to reinvigorate the armed struggle for the unification of the island amidst growing tensions, the Irish Republican Army (IRA) launched armed border campaigns in 1939 and from 1956-1962 (but proved to be ineffective) Global movements for civil rights and decolonisation of the Global South began to strengthen during the 1960s, Irish civil rights activists joined the struggle for their comrades in the North. British and settler loyalists in the North increasingly unleashed violence against Irish Catholics as their political rights were being stifled. British gov made an announcement to avoid state of emergency of declaring war on IRA in order to emphasise that the situation was one of criminal activity rather than an anti colonial struggle. Parliamentary prisoners convicted of terrorism were considered criminals, which prevented them from wearing their own clothes and freely associating with other prisoners. Rights they enjoyed when classified as political prisoners. Bobby Sands hunger strikes= against policy change. ‘Ballot box and aroma lite’ strategy. ‘settler colonialism is a form of invasion where in the colonial power has a specific intention to move its people onto the land and create a new society that mimics their home country in both standard of living and cultural homogeneity’ (fhfhhds) (Wolfe, 2016) explains settler colonialism as a structure rather than a historical event- argues that the logic of elimination of the native is the key underlying characteristic of settler colonialism - ‘elimination is an organising principal of settler-colonial society rather than a one-off occurrence’. - Creates a contest between settlers and natives. (Elkins and Pedersen, 2005) ‘settler colonies… are marked by persuasive inequalities, usually codified in law, between settler indigenous populations… the caste division between the settler and the indigene is usually built into the economy, the political system, and the law, with particular economic activities and political privileges… reserved for members of the setter population.’ - Thus, settler colonialism permeates all aspects of the settler society at all times. Colin Wallace BBC 5th column 1990: Worked for British Army in Northern Ireland for 6 years- 1974 Info officer- ministry of defence- spread disinformation about terrorist information both republican and loyalist Smearing the names of leading British politicians- Harold Wilson- Clockwork Orange Northern Ireland loyalist family- loyal to Queen- freedom and democracy Practised more vigorously in Eastern Europe than UK Displayed as disloyal in UK Tom King refused to comment until the defence committee= established terms of reference Cannot ignore the Wallace allegations, but need to maintain confidence in the security services Recommend for MBE- refused to be disloyal- this is when he was painted in a bad light is when he would refused to lie and deny changing the history of the UK In conditions of military conflict- psychological operations = legitimate weapon against an enemy Spreading black propaganda (black propaganda= intended to create the impression that is was caused by those it is supposed to discredit) Employed by the government against disinformation against terrorism, should not now be believedbe considered a professional deceiver WW2- Richard Crossman= involved in psychological warfare against the Nazis - No one= questions their audacity because of their wartime work People suggesting that Colin Wallace= made it all up- rejecting his protests - Continue to fight to clear his name - Security services can or cannot be called into account - Increasing demands from Westminster- make the intelligence services answerable to Parliament - Secrecy is crucial to its effectiveness of the secret service - Do nothing and leave a situation as it is in seen as unacceptable Peter Wright= diverse cases/ demand further investigation Tighter restrictions of secret services o “If Colin Wallace had decided to spill the beans in April 1990, he would not have been able to argue in a subsequent court action, that what he revealed was so important that it justified his breaking of the Act. This defence would not be available either to the television programme or newspaper which reported his claims.” - 1974- learnt of sexual abuse of boys home in Belfast- wrote a memorandum about it to army superiors - Under New Official Secrets Act- I and those journalists who exposed the scandal couldn’t now claim that these revelations were in the public interest because of the links we believed existed ion the intelligence services - Regular British newspaper readers would have gained the impression that MI5 is staffed entirely by right-wing alcoholics/homosexuals (nothing could be further from the truth, so why gov stood and let the security service take such a battering?) - Answer is Britains homage to the great god secrecy IRA- Behind the mask documentary: Reason for such unprecedented surveillance of a civilian population= Provisional IRA- one of the most feared Gorilla armies in the world IRA not in action, it is planning and preparing All catholic areas/areas of potential support of the IRA in Belfast= kept under constant watch Silence= weapons of survival for IRA - Brendan Hughes- recently removed from prison after serving 13 years o Active member of IRA= 1970’s involved in the action o Fighting in streets/ conflict in prison o Youth=protestant people - Only householders could vote- Protestant councils= restricted Catholic access to housing - Have a house/have a vote - 1968= northern Irish state= attacked by police- Protestant extremist - Police led mobs o First hunger strike for political violence Roots= catholic Considered to be a terrorist organisation due to tactics- bombing/ assassination - Brendan became a rebel republican- not knowing where he was going, but knew he felt bitterness o Terrence Clarke- wasn’t just a one off attack, happening constantly, lots of bombings etc Impending civil war- restore stability for UK - IRA had complete control- remove British presence from Ireland - Gorilla war for Northern Ireland- seeing something wrong=rectify with violence - 1971- interment without trial- failed to undermine IRA o Breige Brownlee Joined IRA Carry weapons Ambush situation IRA reform put in place- attack British police Understanding international terrorism: Root causes and policy responses panel: Terrorist scare- outsized compared to what the actual scare is Large/important policy change in America= “trying to turn a craft carrier in a very small port” (Scott Atran) - Unless you figure the irrational fears and emotions of revenge and the convo of entity- need some kind of enemy- new enemy might look like= will be discussed - Only way there can be peace in Afghanistan= if US talk to the Taliban- explain they will not defeat them- there will be no military victory - AQ= viral movement- infecting areas there were not infected before= Yemen, Somalia AQ exist for 2 reasons: 1) Taliban harbour a core= symbolic presence 2) Publicity- ‘ultimate oxygen of terrorism’ (Scott Atran) Publicity makes terrorism sound hysterical Radicalisation and Terror Experts: Tony Blair gov= 7/7 bombings- prevent strategy introduced Not just acts of violence, but acts of speech- widening what counts as terrorism as a crime - Have a policy for people who haven’t committed a crime yet, but will in the future: need a model of radicalisation - Process that you assume people go through before they become a terrorist - Look out for radicalisation signs- then intervene to prevent them Radicalisation: Doesn’t distinguish between act of violence and things associated with the act Instead of finding out what causes terrorism- looks at radical ideology Lots of people have radical views- what explains the connection between radical views and someone wanted to create terror conflicts - Mass surveillance of Muslims - Children being treated with suspicion- suspicious drawings Quillium- self styled extremists - Dedicated to countering what they thought was the most common factor of deciphering terrorism= political Islamic ideology - Muslim face for the government message - 93% funding= foreign office and home office - An extension of the state- putting viewpoints which reinforce state power, rather than raising awareness to find resolutions Lecture slides: Causes of Terrorism: Why do people make the decision to take up arms against an enemy? - Religion/ Islam - Identity - Propaganda - Conflict Causes of terrorism - Radicalisation - Extremism How do we stop terrorism? - First thing to do to stop terrorism is to stop committing it. Rendition, torture, assassination= cause terror and creates terrorists - *refer to David Miller (2015) Islam must accommodate the west What is radicalisation: o (Schmid) ‘the search for what exactly ‘radicalisation’ is… is a frustrating experience. There is ‘no universally accepted’ definition in academia or government’ o 2011 literature= ‘about the only thing that radicalisation experts agree on is that radicalisation is a process. Beyond that, there is considerable variation as to make existing research incomparable’ Terrorism vs extremist: ▪ An individual or group process of growing commitment to engage in acts of political terrorism (Schmid, 2013) ▪ At the most basic level, radicalisation is the process whereby people become extremists (Neumann, 2013) “Settler colonialism and the elimination of the native” (Patrick Wolfe, 2006) ‘Land is life- or at least land is necessary for life’. - This is not to say that settler colonialism is simply a form of genocide. ‘Settler colonialism is inherently eliminatory, but not invariably genocidal’. SETTLER COLONIALISM: It has positive and negative connotations: - positively= erects a new colonial society on the expropriated land base (settler colonisers come to stay: invasion is a structure not an event). -negatively= strives fore the dissolution of native societies ‘Settler colonialism destroys to replace’ (Patrick Wolfe, 2006) ‘If I wish to substitute a new building for an old one, I must demolish before I construct’ (Theodor Herzl, 1941) The line between settler colony and settler state may be an ambiguous one, for settler colonies have often demanded (sometimes been granted) considerable self-governing rights, as in Northern Ireland from 1922-1972. (Caroline Elkins, 2005). Settler colonial logics and the neoliberal regime: (David lloyd & Patrick Wolfe) 2015: We live in an epoch that is witnessing the transformation of the state and its governmental institutions. The so-called war on terror, which has been used to legitimate an inordinate increase in the development of surveillance technologies and their deployment against the citizenry, has coincided with global regimes of austerity. Anti-immigrant scare-mothering conflates migrants, whether driven by economic or political necessities, with terrorist enemies, militarising the borders of states in the name of security. ‘Settler colonialism is not some transitional phase that gives way to- or even provides a laboratory for the emergent global order. In both the the originally and the continuing senses, it is foundational to that order. It has often been assumed that, while both capitalism and the modern state originated in processes including primitive accumulation, imperialism, colonialism and conquest, modernisation in both the political and economic spheres gradually leaves those stages behind, allowing for some form of cosmopolitan transnational globality to emerge.’ • The counter-insurgency campaigns of Northern Ireland stand as some reminder that the settler colony has always also been a site of military occupation and is extended extraterritorially by way of military occupation as a further modality of colonialism. (Patrick Wolfe) identifies settler colonialism as operating through the ‘logic of elimination’. Settlers aim to replace Indigenous peoples on their land, not to simply exploit natural resources. This means that ‘all the Indigenous person needs to do to get in the way of the settler colonial project is to stay at home’. Elimination can be physical, but need not be. Patrick Wolfe identifies the Indigenous connection to land as particularly threatening to settlercolonial society, and others have also traced recurring policy attempts to sever these connections. This is because in Western polities land is simultaneously a physical commercial resource and a marker of the boundaries of sovereign authority; land is also territory. He also argues that overall: ‘settler colonialism is an inclusive, land-centred project that coordinates a comprehensive range of agencies, from the metropolitan centre to the frontier encampment, with a view to eliminating indigenous societies.’