We had a great time at the launch of Unionists, Loyalists, and Conflict Transformation in Northern Ireland at Parliament Buildings (Stormont, where the Northern Ireland Assembly meets) on Thursday, March 8. We enjoyed a mix of academics, community workers, civil servants, clergy, politicians, ex-combatants, and friends. It had the feel of public sociology!
You can listen to the audio of the proceedings and browse pictures on the book’s website. Alan in Belfast pulled me aside for an interview, and he later blogged about the book.
After time to mingle and eat sandwiches, Mr. Sammy Douglas MLA called our attention to the front of the room for comments and offered some kind remarks of his own. Mr. Douglas has been deeply involved in conflict transformation and community development for many years, so I have been deeply grateful for his interest in this research and book project. Mr. Jonathan Bell MLA, junior minister in the Office of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister, spoke on behalf of the Northern Ireland Executive and shared his appreciation for “contributions that unionists and loyalists have made to securing a peaceful future for Northern Ireland.”
Prof. John Brewer of Aberdeen University and the current President of the British Sociological Association offered his positive assessment of the book’s contributions. Prof. Brewer held up evangelical leadership as one example of an important dimension of unionist and loyalist conflict transformation that is represented in the book, though I would add that there are other sources, including Prof. Brewer’s latest book (co-authored with Dr. Gareth Higgins and Dr. Francis Teeney; Oxford University Press) that address that topic with a closer focus, for anyone who is interested.
- Brewer, John D, Gareth I Higgins, and Francis Teeney. 2012. Religion, Civil Society, and Peace in Northern Ireland. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
- Ganiel, Gladys. 2008. Evangelicalism and Conflict in Northern Ireland. New York: Palgrave Macmillan.
- Mitchell, Claire. 2006. Religion, Identity and Politics in Northern Ireland: Boundaries of Belonging and Belief. Aldershot, Hants, England: Ashgate Pub.
- Jordan, Glenn. 2001. Not of This World?: Evangelical Protestants in Northern Ireland. Belfast: Blackstaff Press.
I claimed a couple of minutes at the lectern to say thanks for all the support that made this project possible. However, somehow, I failed to thank Oxford University Press and the event’s ministerial co-sponsors, Mr. Mark H Durkan and Ms. Paula Bradley, errors I correct here!
We also had a wonderful launch on Monday, March 12 at No Alibis Bookstore, and I will post about that soon, once some pictures are available.
Lee A. Smithey is an Associate Professor of peace and conflict studies at Swarthmore College in Swarthmore, Pennsylvania where he coordinates the college’s Peace and Conflict Studies program. He studies social movements, conflict transformation, and strategic nonviolent action. He is the author of Unionists, Loyalists, and Conflict Transformation in Northern Ireland (Oxford University Press), and co-edited The Paradox of Repression and Nonviolent Movements (Syracuse University Press) with Lester R. Kurtz. 
Constructive Conflict 