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Transforming Politics pp 106–125Cite as

Palgrave Macmillan

‘Very British Rebels’: Politics and Discourse within Contemporary Ulster Unionism

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Part of the book series: Explorations in Sociology ((EIS))

Abstract

Ulster unionism has reacted to political events surrounding what has become known as the ‘peace process’,1 with hostility, with clear expressions of suspicion and with loud outcries of treachery by the British government. Events throughout the contemporary period have, for many observers, simply reinforced their understanding of unionism as an ossified and phlegmatic social movement. This chapter, however, will seek to question this and to view unionism as a social movement constantly subject to processes of redefinition and renegotiation.

‘When I use a word,’ Humpty Dumpty said, in a rather scornful tone, ‘it means just what I choose it to mean — neither more nor less.’

The question is,’ said Alice, ‘whether you can make words mean so many different things.’

‘The question is,’ said Humpty Dumpty, ‘which is to be master — that’s all’

Lewis Carroll, Through the Looking Glass, pp. 229–30

The idea of Irish unity by stealth is actually what you are talking about, and what you have is not a peace process but a ‘piece-by-piece’ process. That is a frustration, that is a fear … perception here is the reality, and we have got to deal with that perception.

Ian Paisley Jr, The Observer, 11 January 1998

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Authors
  1. James White McAuley
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Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. University of Leeds, UK

    Paul Bagguley (Senior Lecturer in Sociology) (Senior Lecturer in Sociology)

  2. Faculty of Economic and Social Studies, University of Manchester, UK

    Jeff Hearn (Professorial Research Fellow) (Professorial Research Fellow)

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© 1999 British Sociological Association

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McAuley, J.W. (1999). ‘Very British Rebels’: Politics and Discourse within Contemporary Ulster Unionism. In: Bagguley, P., Hearn, J. (eds) Transforming Politics. Explorations in Sociology. Palgrave Macmillan, London. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-349-27429-1_7

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