An ideology that can be associated
with the IRA is the nationalism movement. Nationalism is something that
generates a strong inner feeling among the people that they hold with
them. The theory of nationalism is so strong that it has even started
full-scale world wars. It can be simply stated as a group of people coming
together for a common cause. They typically have an extreme pride in their
nation or nation state. The IRA falls directly into this category because
they have such a strong pride for Ireland. Northern Ireland has been a
very turbulent and violent place for a long period of time. This view
of nationalism is so strongly demonstrated in the six counties in the
north of the island. Since being taken over by British control, the fighting
between Protestants and Catholics has been a regular occurrence. Members
of the IRA are Catholics, and the Loyalists are the Protestants. Loyalists
are those who consider themselves loyal to Great Britain over the nation
of Ireland. The IRA is trying to unite Ireland without the interference
of England. Along with the IRA, the Loyalists have a huge sense of nationalism.
This is why the two groups continue to fight, the theory of nationalism
has fueled their desires and compromising the original views is not an
option.
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Under the IRA's view of nationalism,
Catholicism is a major component of it. While they are fighting for the
free nation of Ireland, they are also striving to have a Catholic nation.
In 1932 Eamon de Valera, the Irish Taoiseach or prime minister, claimed
Ireland was a "Catholic nation." de Valera as it should be noted
however was a member of Sinn Fein, the political branch of the IRA. His
statement provided a strong case and continued to demonstrate the connection
between the republican movement and the Catholic movement in Ireland (See,
113). The ties that bonded the people in Northern Ireland were mainly
of religious roots. In Ireland, it was more of an ethnic or religious
nationalism. The Protestants held the power in the north and they ruled
that power with an iron fist, oppressing the Catholics and others who
wanted a united nation. The cities were segregated into separate neighborhoods
for the two religious groups. If someone were to cross the lines into
a different section, violence would most likely erupt. The Protestants
took care of their own, as did the Catholics. "For many Catholics
in urban Ulster only the IRA served as a source of protection and defense
against the Protestants" (See,
122).
The nationalistic views of the
IRA especially came up when in 1972; direct rule was placed in Northern
Ireland. This policy meant that there would be troops stationed in Northern
Ireland at all times to increase the peace and cut down on the violence
between the Catholics and the Protestants. It is always through tough
times that people band together and strive for a cause; the IRA had this
vision in their heads. The IRA wanted a strong political say in their
behalf and they were not receiving it. In response, they began to boycott
the elections being held. Throughout the years, the troops were gradually
pulled out, from thirty thousand troops in 1972 to about seventeen thousand
in 1985. The economy in Northern Irish cities was crumbling as many middle
class workers lost jobs. This caused anger in many of the younger citizens
and as Katherine See puts it, "they were prime candidates for the
IRA."
Gradually over the years political power was being granted to the IRA. It began with the Northern Irish government listening to their views and continued when they decided to get involved in organized politics. While IRA members were under a hunger strike in prison one of their own, Bobby Sands ran for Parliament and won. This sparked a new hope for the Catholics. Eventually, ten of the hunger strikers died. The government of British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher did not acknowledge the political status of the IRA and therefore it only strengthened the local support for Sands in the Catholic areas of Ireland (See, 130).