Northern Ireland

:For an explanation of often confusing terms like Ulster, (Republic of) Ireland, (Great) Britain and United Kingdom see British Isles (terminology).

Demographics and politics

:Main article: Demographics and politics of Northern Ireland

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A majority of the present-day population (59%, according to a 2004 survey) wish to remain part of the United Kingdom, but a significant minority (22%) want to see a united Ireland. The make-up of the Northern Ireland Assembly reflects these divisions within the population. It is common to refer to one community as Unionists and the other as Nationalists, though there are many who hold a position on the border that is at odds with the label of their community or refute the labels completely. Of the 108 members, 59 are Unionists and 42 are Nationalist (the remaining seven are classified as "other"). Although Protestants are a clear majority, the largest religious denomination of Northern Ireland is the Roman Catholic Church, followed by the Presbyterian Church in Ireland and the Church of Ireland, with the Methodist Church of Ireland coming fourth. These two views are linked to deeper cultural divisions

Related Topics:
United Kingdom - United Ireland - Northern Ireland Assembly - Unionists - Nationalist - Roman Catholic Church - Presbyterian Church in Ireland - Church of Ireland - Methodist Church of Ireland

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Unionists are predominantly Protestant and often descendants of Scottish and English (mainly Scottish) settlement in previous centuries, while nationalists are predominantly Catholic and usually descend from the population predating such settlement. Discrimination against nationalists under the Stormont government (1920–1972) gave rise to the nationalist civil rights movement in the 1960s. Many unionists argue that any discrimination was not just because of religious or political bigotry, but also the result of more complex socio-economic, socio-political and geographical factors. This eventually led to a long-running conflict known as The Troubles and the political unrest has gone through its most violent phase in recent times between 1968–1994.

Related Topics:
Protestant - Scottish - English - Catholic - Stormont - 1920 - 1972 - Civil rights movement - 1960s - The Troubles - 1968 - 1994

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The main actors have been the Provisional IRA and other republican groups determined to end the British presence, and the Royal Ulster Constabulary, British army and various loyalist paramilitary groups who were defending it. As a consequence of the worsening security situation, self-government for Northern Ireland was suspended in 1972. Since the mid 1990s, the main paramilitary group, the Provisional IRA, has observed an uneasy ceasefire. Following negotiations, the Belfast Agreement of 1998 provides for an elected Northern Ireland Assembly, and a power-sharing Northern Ireland Executive comprising representatives of all the main parties. These institutions have been suspended since 2002 because of PSNI allegations of spying by people working for Sinn Fein at the Assembly, although nobody was convicted after a high-profile police operation.

Related Topics:
Provisional IRA - Royal Ulster Constabulary - British army - Loyalist - 1972 - 1990s - Ceasefire - Belfast Agreement - 1998 - Northern Ireland Assembly - Northern Ireland Executive - 2002 - PSNI - Sinn Fein

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On 28 July, 2005, the Provisional IRA declared an end to its campaign and have since decommissioned what is thought to be all of their arsenal. This act was performed in accordance with the Belfast Agreement 1998, and under the watch of the International Decommissioning Body and two external church witnesses.

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