Making Sense of the Troubles

The Story of the Conflict in Northern Ireland

David McKittrick, David McVea

• Publisher: New Amsterdam Books
• Year: 2002
• eBook ISBN: 9781461663331
• Edition: 1
• Topic: History
• Subtopic: European History
• Index: History

Compellingly written and even-handed in its judgments, this is by far the clearest account of what has happened through the years in the Northern Ireland conflict, and why. After a chapter of background on the period from 1921 to 1963, it covers the ensuing period-the descent into violence, the hunger strikes, the Anglo-Irish accord, the bombers in England-to the present shaky peace process. Behind the deluge of information and opinion about the conflict, there is a straightforward and gripping story. Mr. McKittrick and Mr. McVea tell that story clearly, concisely, and, above all, fairly, avoiding intricate detail in favor of narrative pace and accessible prose. They describe and explain a lethal but fascinating time in Northern Ireland's history, which brought not only death, injury, and destruction but enormous political and social change. They close on an optimistic note, convinced that while peace-if it comes-will always be imperfect, a corner has now been decisively turned. The book includes a detailed chronology, statistical tables, and a glossary of terms.

Table of contents

• Cover
• Half title
• Title
• Copyright
• Dedication
• Contents
• Introduction
• 1 The static society 1921–63
• 2 The O’Neill years 1963–69
• 3 Descent into violence 1969–71
• 4 The end of Stormont 1972–73
• 5 Sunningdale, strike & stalemate 1974–76
• 6 From Castlereagh to Warrenpoint 1977–79
• 7 The hungerstrikes 1980–81
• 8 Anglo–Irish accord 1982–85
• 9 Enniskillen, Libya & bombs in England 1986–93
• 10 Peace process 1993–94
• 11 Decommissioning, Docklands & Drumcree 1994–96
• 12 Breakthrough 1997–2001
• Perspectives
• Chronology
• Tables
• Glossary
• Bibliographical notes
• Index