Northern Ireland Identity Dynamics in the Aftermath of the Brexit Referendum: A Thematic Exploration of Opinion Newspaper Articles

Författare

Clara Dunster

Summary, in English

Northern Ireland’s relatively recent history as a state has been marked by decades of ethnonational conflict, euphemised as “The Troubles.” While the signing of the Good Friday Agreement marked the beginning of a period of relative peace and stability, the United Kingdom’s decision to leave the European Union has raised concerns that this peace will be threatened. Academic analysis of society and conflict in Northern Ireland has typically been predicated on the assumption that its identity landscape consists of two distinct ethnonational groups: Irish/Nationalist/Catholics and British/Unionist/Protestants. However, I contend that identities are fluid and continually re-constructed depending on societal and cultural changes. This thesis, therefore, explores how the Brexit referendum influenced identity dynamics in Northern Ireland. This is achieved through a qualitative thematic analysis of opinion newspaper articles in the post-Brexit referendum period from the two most popular regional newspapers in Northern Ireland, the Irish News and the Belfast Telegraph. This thesis evaluates whether discussions in these articles contain evidence of the continued relevance of ethnonational identities and whether hybrid identities are emerging in the region. The resulting themes indicate that hybrid identification has not emerged among contributors during this period. However, contributors appear increasingly frustrated with the enduring relevance of ethnonationalism in Northern Ireland, particularly within their government.

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