This paper argues that micro-mobilization into armed activism is strongly motivated by the enactment of an identity that people already have prior to their mobilization as a way to strongly assert and emphasize individual agency in the face of major changes in the political context. Empirically, it advocates that those who joined the Provisional IRA between 1969 and 1972 did so in order to respond to a need for action by a northern nationalist community that stemmed from a perceived, alleged or actual, sense of second-class citizenship. We suggest that the importance of identity rather than ideology can also help us to explain why IRA members and former members overwhelmingly accepted the compromise peace settlement of the 1990s despite the fact that core ideological goals had not been realized. We conclude by suggesting avenues for future research outside the Irish context.

Armed activism as the enactment of a collective identity: the case of the Provisional IRA between 1969 and 1972

Lorenzo Bosi
;
Ò DOCHARTAIGH, Niall Cathal
2018

Abstract

This paper argues that micro-mobilization into armed activism is strongly motivated by the enactment of an identity that people already have prior to their mobilization as a way to strongly assert and emphasize individual agency in the face of major changes in the political context. Empirically, it advocates that those who joined the Provisional IRA between 1969 and 1972 did so in order to respond to a need for action by a northern nationalist community that stemmed from a perceived, alleged or actual, sense of second-class citizenship. We suggest that the importance of identity rather than ideology can also help us to explain why IRA members and former members overwhelmingly accepted the compromise peace settlement of the 1990s despite the fact that core ideological goals had not been realized. We conclude by suggesting avenues for future research outside the Irish context.
2018
Settore SPS/11 - Sociologia dei Fenomeni Politici
Political violence; collective identity; Northern Ireland; agency; nationalism
File in questo prodotto:
File Dimensione Formato  
Bosi and O'Dochartaigh 2017.pdf

Accesso chiuso

Tipologia: Published version
Licenza: Non pubblico
Dimensione 1.07 MB
Formato Adobe PDF
1.07 MB Adobe PDF   Richiedi una copia
69638_Manuscript for SMS LB NOD Armed activism.pdf

Open Access dal 19/03/2019

Tipologia: Accepted version (post-print)
Licenza: Creative Commons
Dimensione 110.65 kB
Formato Adobe PDF
110.65 kB Adobe PDF

I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.

Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/11384/69638
Citazioni
  • ???jsp.display-item.citation.pmc??? ND
  • Scopus 9
  • ???jsp.display-item.citation.isi??? 4
  • OpenAlex ND
social impact