Premium
Irish language education and the national ideal: the dynamics of nationalism in N orthern I reland
Author(s) -
McManus Cathal
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
nations and nationalism
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.655
H-Index - 44
eISSN - 1469-8129
pISSN - 1354-5078
DOI - 10.1111/nana.12142
Subject(s) - nationalism , ideology , politics , irish , irish nationalism , sociology , population , state (computer science) , political economy , political science , law , linguistics , demography , philosophy , computer science , algorithm
Since the beginning of the N orthern I reland conflict in the late 1960s, I rish nationalism has been identified as a prominent force in the political culture of the state. Recent studies have suggested, however, that the ‘Nationalist’ population has become increasingly content within the new political framework created by the peace process and the aspiration for Irish unity diminished. In placing the N orthern I reland situation within the theoretical framework of nationalism, this paper will analyse how these changing priorities have been possible. Through an analysis of I rish language study in N orthern I reland's schools, the paper will examine how the political ideals espoused by the nationalist S inn F éin Party reflected the priorities of the ‘nationalist community’. It will be contended that the relationship between the ideology and ‘the people’ is much more complex than is often allowed for and that educational inequalities are a significant contributing factor to this.