Making the Peace in Ireland

For nearly 30 years Northern Ireland has been a by-word for terrorism, bloodshed, military coercion and intense communal conflict. The failure to resolve the conflict has had epic and tragic consequences. But Ireland is now experiencing a transition from a society in conflict to one at peace. This hardcover book is a must for those who want to understand contemporary Irish politics and this is the first book to cover the whole of the peace process in northern Ireland, focusing on resolution as much as conflict and violence. In portraying the story of settlement and peace, rather than focusing exclusively on the IRA and terrorism as do the legions of other books on "the Troubles", Jeremy Smith injects optimism and freshness into the history. Making the Peace in Ireland considers what type of conflict it is in Ireland and how it fits into wider British and European patterns. It places events in context by looking at historical roots across the centuries. The mixed ideas that sustain the identities and traditions are untangled. For those interested in Ireland and/or Britain.

Jeremy Smith is at the University College, Chester