Postgraduate courses

A Troubled Culture: Northern Ireland since 1921 (HT71130A)

Content

This course examines the history of Northern Ireland since its creation as a state within the UK in 1921. There is a particular focus on the cultural dimension of political conflict through examination of the role of religion, sport, language and symbolism in society. The course also pays close attention to how contrasting memories of historical events are a factor in divisions in Northern Ireland society, and how memory of history is changing today. The course includes detailed consideration of the main events of the Troubles from the late 1960s to the mid-1990s, and why/how the Troubles drew to a close. The course will use a wide range of traditional primary and secondary sources, but will also consider the oral history of the Troubles through recordings of victims’ accounts, and will focus on the symbolism of flags.

Learning Outcomes

• A detailed knowledge of events in Northern Ireland politics since 1920.
• The ability to understand events in Northern Ireland in a theoretical framework.
• An in-depth understanding of political language, symbolism and identities in Northern Ireland, through examining the relationship between cultural identities and historical events.
• The ability to interpret a wide range of sources available including texts, images and music, closely and critically.
• Ability to write a creative and critical historical analysis and narrative.

Introductory Reading

• Paul Bew, Ireland: the Politics of Enmity 1789-2006 (Oxford, 2007)
• David McKittrick & David McVea, David, Making sense of the troubles (London, 2001)
• Jonathan Tonge, Northern Ireland (London, 2005)