National Identity and Citizenship

Abstract

The conflict in Northern Ireland is argued to be heavily rooted in issues surrounding national identity and group membership. Although group differences in Northern Ireland are not physiognomic, individuals in this society are capable of categorising one as being Catholic or Protestant based on social cues. Such identity categorisation is an important part of everyday life in Northern Ireland, where group symbols are highly salient. Chapter 3 presents national identity trends over recent years based on national surveys. It also focuses on the development of a new potential common ingroup identity, Northern Irish, and the impact this has had upon intergroup relations. It considers the meaning and ambiguity of identity and ends with an introduction to citizenship as a tool to improve attitudes.