The Northern Ireland Question In British Politics (contemporary History In Context Series)

Whilst there are any number of books on the subject of Northern Ireland, few provide much guidance on how it has been handled by Westminster and Whitehall, or indeed the extent to which British governments and Parliament has tried to avoid having to handle the issue. This book provides a much needed historical context in which to assess contemporary approaches to the Northern Ireland problem and, in essays covering the period from the establishment of the Northern Ireland state to the present day, points to many often overlooked continuities in British policy. Since December 1920 The Best Minds In British Politics Have Attempted To Push Northern Ireland Off The Domestic Political Agenda By Promoting Devolution And A Council Of Ireland With Cross-border Authority. Every Effort Has Failed. Instead, Northern Ireland Has Emerged Again As The British Government's Most Pressing Problem, Commanding More Rather Than Less Attention As Time Has Passed. Why Should This Be? In This Collection Of Essays, Scholars From A Range Of Disciplines Show How Northern Ireland Continued To Play A Role In British Politics After 1921. Looking At Themes Such As Its Strategic Importance, Its Role In Europe, The 'troubles' And Media Coverage, They Demonstrate That The Region Will Continue To Exercise The Best Minds And Suggest That There Is Much To Be Learned By Studying British Responses To The Northern Ireland 'question'. As Such, This Study Provides A Valuable Historical Context In Which To View Current And Developing Policy.--book Jacket. 1. Introduction: Northern Ireland In British Politics / Peter Catterall And Sean Mcdougall -- 2. Northern Ireland: The Origins Of The State / D. George Boyce -- 3. The Projection Of Northern Ireland To Great Britain And Abroad, 1921-39 / Sean Mcdougall -- 4. The Impact Of World War Ii On Northern Ireland And On Belfast-london Relations / Brian Barton -- 5. Labour In Britain And The Northern Ireland Labour Party, 1900-70 / Terry Cradden -- 6. Labour, Northern Ireland And The Decision To Send In The Troops / Peter Rose -- 7. The Price Of Containment: Deaths And Debate On Northern Ireland In The House Of Commons, 1968-94 / Brendan O'duffy -- 8. Conservative Politics And The Abolition Of Stormont / Philip Norton -- 9. From Whitewash To Mayhem: The State Of The Secretary In Northern Ireland / David Bloomfield And Maeve Lankford -- 10. The Inter-relationship Of The Press And Politicians During The 1981 Hunger Strike At The Maze Prison / Michael Von Tangen Page -- 11. Bbc Current Affairs Coverage Of The 1981 Hunger Strike / Howard Smith -- 12. From Hillsborough To Downing Street -- And After / W. Harvey Cox -- 13. The Northern Ireland Question And European Politics / James Goodman. Edited By Peter Catterall And Sean Mcdougall. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. Front Matter....Pages i-xv Introduction: Northern Ireland in British Politics....Pages 1-10 Northern Ireland: The Origins of the State....Pages 11-28 The Projection of Northern Ireland to Great Britain and Abroad, 1921–39....Pages 29-46 The Impact of World War II on Northern Ireland and on Belfast-London Relations....Pages 47-70 Labour in Britain and the Northern Ireland Labour Party, 1900–70....Pages 71-87 Labour, Northern Ireland and the Decision to Send in the Troops....Pages 88-101 The Price of Containment: Deaths and Debate on Northern Ireland in the House of Commons, 1968–94....Pages 102-128 Conservative Politics and the Abolition of Stormont....Pages 129-142 From Whitewash to Mayhem: The State of the Secretary in Northern Ireland....Pages 143-161 The Inter-relationship of the Press and Politicians during the 1981 Hunger Strike at the Maze Prison....Pages 162-173 BBC Current Affairs Coverage of the 1981 Hunger Strike....Pages 174-181 From Hillsborough to Downing Street — and After....Pages 182-211 The Northern Ireland Question and European Politics....Pages 212-228 Back Matter....Pages 229-242 Providing a detailed historical analysis of how the Northern Irish issue has been handled by Westminster and Whitehall, this book also shows how British politics continue to be influenced by events in Northern Ireland, despite efforts to isolate the region.