NCJ Number
58306
Journal
Political Quarterly Volume: 47 Issue: 4 Dated: (OCTOBER-DECEMBER 1976) Pages: 425-437
Date Published
1976
Length
13 pages
Annotation
ALTHOUGH IRELAND HAS SERVED AS A CLASSIC EXAMPLE OF THE EVOLUTION OF POLITICAL TERRORISM AS A MODE OF WARFARE, THE IRA PROVISIONALS REPRESENT A SIGNIFICANT SHIFT IN TRADITIONAL IRISH TERRORISM.
Abstract
IT APPEARS THAT VIOLENT ACTION IS NOT JUST AN INTEGRAL PART OF THE IRISH POLITICAL CULTURE, BUT FORMS A DISTINCTIVE SUBCULTURE, IN THAT BOMBINGS AND TERRORISM LONG HAVE BEEN USED BY THE IRISH AGAINST THE ENGLISH AS ONE OF THE PRIME MODES OF POLITICAL ACTION, ALONG WITH CONSTITUTIONAL AGITATION. THE 1880'S WITNESSED A SHIFT IN MILITARY TACTICS FROM FRONTAL ASSAULTS ON ENGLISH TARGETS TO THE SELECTIVE ASSASSINATION OF BRITISH GOVERNMENT OFFICERS IN IRELAND, ESPECIALLY BY THE IRISH NATIONLIST INVINCIBLES (FORERUNNERS OF THE FIRST IRA). THE IRA OF 1919 TO 1921, UNLIKE SUBSEQUENT GROUPS, INCLUDING THE PROVISIONALS, WAS A TRUE PEOPLE'S ARMY WHICH ACTIVELY COURTED AND RECEIVED PUBLIC SUPPORT. FACTIONALISM BECAME A MAJOR PROBLEM WITHIN THE IRA AFTER THE 1921 TRUCE WITH ENGLAND. THE INDISCRIMINATE BOMBING OF CIVILIAN TARGETS BY THE IRA IN 1938 PROVOKED A POPULAR REACTION WHICH SUSTAINED THE BRITISH POLICE IN A SUCCESSFUL COUNTER ATTACK AGAINST TERRORISM. TODAY THE IRA IS BITTERLY DIVIDED BETWEEN THE OFFICIAL AND PROVISIONAL WINGS. THOUGH THE OFFICIALS WISH TO SEIZE NORTHERN IRELAND AND OVERTHROW BOTH THE BELFAST AND DUBLIN GOVERNMENTS, THEY REJECT PROVISIONAL STRATEGY AND TACTICS OF INDISCRIMINATE BOMBINGS AND SECTARIAN MURDERS BECAUSE IT SUSTAINS AND ENHANCES SECTARIANISM. THE PROVISIONALS (WHO FORMALLY EMERGED IN 1970) SEE THEMSELVES ENGAGED IN A WAR OF NATIONAL LIBERATION IN MUCH THE SAME WAY AS THE PALESTINIANS. THEIR MODE OF WAREFARE IS UNCONVENTIONAL AND RUTHLESS. NO REFERENCES ARE PROVIDED. (KCP)