Two traditions in unionist political culture
- 1 January 1987
- journal article
- research article
- Published by Taylor & Francis in Irish Political Studies
- Vol. 2 (1) , 1-26
- https://doi.org/10.1080/07907188708406434
Abstract
This paper identifies two ideological traditions within Northern Irish unionism. The first, Ulster loyalism, is defined by its primary imagined community of Northern Protestants and its secondary conditional loyalty to the British state. It treats religion and politics as inextricably interrelated. This ideology is reproduced by potentially dominatory marches. Ulster British ideology, in contrast, is defined by its primary imagined community of Greater Britain and its secondary regional patriotism for Northern Ireland. It professes liberal political values. This ideology is reproduced by the extensive linkages between Northern Ireland and Great Britain which create typical life paths for Ulster British individuals. After analysing the structure of each ideology in terms of its imagined community, its Other and its fundamental structuring concepts, the paper discusses the possibilities of change of each ideology.Keywords
This publication has 2 references indexed in Scilit:
- THE SYMBOLIC CONSTRUCTION OF COMMUNITYPublished by Taylor & Francis ,1985
- The Orange Order in Ireland: A Religious Institution?British Journal of Sociology, 1971