Northern Ireland Since 1969

The Troubles in Northern Ireland first broke out in 1969 and led to more than 3,500 deaths over the 30 years that followed. It proved to be the most intractable conflict in Europe since the Second World War. The 1994 IRA ceasefire, the peace process that followed and the eventual emergence of a power-sharing government constituted a remarkable transformation, but fierce debate remains over the recent history of Northern Ireland and its future.

Northern Ireland Since 1969 provides an introduction to the main events surrounding the Troubles, but also critically reviews the debates over the conflict and challenges some of the most influential explanations, examining events in their proper historical context.

 Key topics covered in the book include:

        the role of the civil rights movement in the origin of the Troubles

        the British governments handling of the crisis in the early 1970s

        the failure of power sharing in 1974

        the Good Friday Agreement 1998 and its implementation

        the triumph of the DUP and Sinn Fin

        the future of Northern Ireland

Northern Ireland Since 1969 offers an accessible and comprehensive account of the history, key players and key moments of the conflict, making it an essential introductory text for students encountering the topic for the first time.

Paul Dixon is a Reader in Politics and International Studies at Kingston University. He is the author of Northern Ireland: The Politics of War and Peace (2nd edition, 2008).

Eamonn OKane is Senior Lecturer in Politics and War Studies at the University of Wolverhampton.  He is the author of Britain, Ireland and Northern Ireland Since 1980 (2007, paperback 2010).