Abstract
In March 1972, as the political climate in Northern Ireland degenerated apace, the Conservative administration in London exercised its constitutional prerogative and dissolved the devolved legislature at Stormont. The introduction of ‘direct rule’ from Westminster represents a significant watershed in the development of modern Northern Ireland. The operation of direct rule over the past two decades has initiated a ‘passive revolution’ which has transformed Northern Irish society. The aspect of social change occasioned by direct rule which has preoccupied commentators most is the emergence of an enlarged and variegated Catholic middle class. Rather less attention has been afforded to the more affluent elements of the unionist community. This essay seeks to begin to redress this significant imbalance within the study of contemporary Northern Irish society.
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Notes
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Coulter, C. (1996). Direct Rule and the Unionist Middle Classes. In: English, R., Walker, G. (eds) Unionism in Modern Ireland. Palgrave Macmillan, London. https://doi.org/10.1057/9780230509849_10
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