New film on Northern Ireland’s ‘Troubles’ cautions against political violence.

Political Polarization: A Cautionary Tale from Northern Ireland

Given ‍the rise in​ political polarization in ⁣the United States, some pundits believe that the ​nation could be coming​ apart ⁢at the‍ seams. A ‌new documentary uses a recent‌ example from overseas to ⁢demonstrate in vivid detail what that would entail.

“Once ⁢Upon a Time in Northern Ireland,” a‌ five-part documentary⁣ released​ by the​ BBC this ⁣spring, gives an ​oral history of what euphemistically became known​ as “The Troubles” in the six counties that comprise Northern Ireland. The series, which is ⁢premiering‌ in America on PBS, shows ⁢the‌ deep and lasting scars that the slow-motion civil war had on⁣ generations of Ulster⁢ residents.

From Civil Rights to Civil War

The series’ first episode focuses on the roots ‌of the conflict, between Protestant loyalists aligned with the British⁣ government ‍in London and ⁤Catholics seeking ⁢to unite Northern Ireland (still ⁣a part of the United Kingdom) ⁤with the Republic of Ireland in Dublin. What began as a justifiable ‌desire for‍ political equality slowly descended a few steps short of madness.

At the root ‍of “The⁤ Troubles” lay the electoral ‍disparity‌ within Northern Ireland.⁤ Because the ⁢voting franchise was restricted to landholders,⁢ and​ because a greater percentage of Protestants owned property than Catholics, the Republican faction comprised a permanent political minority. ⁢Looking to the American civil rights movement, the Catholic community launched ⁤their own civil rights push ‌in​ Ireland, ⁣under ⁤the mantra of “One man, one vote.”

In one sense, American concerns over​ “rigged” political processes‍ echo the protests of Catholics in Northern Ireland 50-60 years ‍ago. But physical segregation between Protestant and Catholic communities‍ — in many⁤ cases, neighborhoods⁣ were and ⁣still are separated by ⁣walls — led to much deeper divisions than experienced in the ⁢United States today. The fact that⁢ Catholic females were ‌literally⁣ tarred and feathered for fraternizing with⁢ British soldiers — and that the ⁤Catholic community approved of ⁤such treatment — speaks to the hatred that physical ⁢separation can engender.

Physical divisions played⁤ a major role in the event viewed as the‍ start ‌of “The Troubles.” In the August 1969 “Battle of⁤ the ⁢Bogside” in Derry (or, ‌as Protestants call it, Londonderry), several days of rioting overwhelmed the police. The‌ Catholic community set up‍ barriers to keep law​ enforcement out of “their” neighborhood, ‍forcing the ‌government in London to call in the British Army.

At the ⁣time, both sides thought the army would serve as a buffer to keep the Protestant and Catholic factions from killing ‌each ​other. Republican ⁢and Loyalist alike welcomed the new troops with‌ the most British of traditions,​ delivering tea ⁣and biscuits to the army soldiers.

But the British Army‍ became viewed by Catholics as an occupying⁤ power, ‌sparking a revival of the Provisional ⁣Irish Republican Army (IRA).‍ Other paramilitaries developed on both the Catholic and Protestant sides of the divide, which fought⁣ over the three decades of “The Troubles.”

Thankfully, ‍division⁢ within the United States holds few parallels to ⁣“The Troubles.” Despite the fixation of ​military leaders ⁤on woke politics, few⁣ view the average ​rank-and-file soldier as having an explicit Republican or⁤ Democratic bias. Likewise, one can scarcely ‌imagine “Republican” or “Democratic” paramilitaries developing. And a good thing too, because the paramilitaries in Northern‌ Ireland often​ operated more like the Mafia in the neighborhoods they controlled — “disappearing” people⁢ who were thought ⁤to have cooperated with the opposing side.

Scars‍ Only Slightly Diminished with Time

The‍ documentary allows viewers ⁣to get some semblance of daily life during a time of immense turmoil ⁢and violence. By relying ‌almost exclusively on oral history interviews, with only an occasional news clip to provide historical context, ⁤the series vividly ​depicts the thoughts of individuals on both ⁣sides ​of the sectarian divide, along with attempts to end the polarization. In some cases, participants display their palpable regret for past⁤ offenses.

And many⁣ scenes show those offenses in horrific detail: ​Catholics’ belongings strewn‌ about ⁣following‌ a British Army ⁢search, and the army issuing statements implying the Catholics destroyed their⁢ own homes for propaganda purposes; IRA⁢ leaders committing suicide by hunger strike, starving ⁤themselves to death in an unsuccessful attempt to force the British government to treat ‍them⁤ as political prisoners, ⁣and leaving behind wives ⁣and families; shooters attacking funerals;⁣ a cop gunned down leaving the hospital just after visiting his wife and newborn son; and⁢ the constant mental ​toll posed not just by bombings, but by all the security precautions ⁢put in​ place to ‍prevent the bombings.

A Senseless Slaughter

Through most of the five hours of “Once Upon a Time in Northern Ireland,” ‍a general feeling ‍pervades: This ​is all so ​unnecessary.

The first episode​ featured a prescient quote from ⁣John Hume, pleading ​for order as ‌violence began ⁢to spiral out of control. Hume — who ultimately⁢ shared the Nobel Peace Prize for his efforts to end a conflict that he tried to prevent — ⁣noted that the Catholic community’s⁤ demand for “one person, one vote” would prove of little value if citizens had little to vote for. ​Likewise, the Loyalist community retaining political control would amount to a ⁤pyrrhic victory if Ulster lay in waste.

It seems obvious that⁤ the⁣ problems plaguing Northern Ireland ultimately required a political⁣ solution. ⁢“The Troubles” didn’t involve a territorial dispute or the marauding activities of an invading army. When the‌ “enemy” is one’s neighbor⁢ across the street, very little apart from a political settlement ⁣will ⁤solve​ the underlying causes of conflict. ⁤

Through much of “Once ‌Upon ‌a Time in‌ Northern Ireland,” one may wonder at the absence of political leaders⁤ in the story — the British government in London, the⁢ Irish government in Dublin, and leaders within Northern Ireland themselves — and ⁣whether the violence could have abated sooner had‌ elected officials moved more forcefully ​more quickly. ⁢

Even now, a quarter-century after the Good Friday⁢ Agreement, old⁤ scars⁢ still run deep. Some still find the ⁣legacy of “The ⁣Troubles” — which killed more than 3,500 and wounded more than 47,000, in⁢ an area with a ​current population of just fewer‌ than ⁢2 million — too difficult to “forgive and​ forget.”‍

But an end to ⁢the violence has prevented ​further ⁣scars, meaning that each successive generation can continue the ‍process of healing.

“Once Upon a Time in Northern Ireland” will help that process,​ providing a cautionary tale for those in Ulster — and those well beyond ‍it⁣ — warning against the folly of using violence to resolve political disputes.