Frozen or Fluid?
What is the central debate about ethno-national identity in Northern Ireland the author explores?
Whether identity is fixed and inherited or fluid and shaped by social factors
What major 2016 political event influenced identity shifts in Northern Ireland?
The Brexit referendum
What are the two dominant national identities in Northern Ireland?
British and Irish
What major European rival did Britain define itself against from 1689 to 1815?
France
According to surveys, what is the largest political identity in Northern Ireland today?
Neither Unionist nor Nationalist
What does "category fluidity" mean in the context of Northern Irish identity?
The ability to move between different national identites, fully adopting their meanings and repertoires.
How did Brexit affect Protestant identity?
Protestants became disenchanted with leadership causing some (20%) of Protestants who did not experience the Troubles to shift from British to Irish identity after Brexit.
How did the Good Friday Agreement affect identity conflicts?
It ended large-scale violence but did not completely resolve sectarian divisions.
What was the Act of Union (1707), and which two countries did it merge?
It united Scotland with England and Wales to form Great Britain
What major political agreement reinforced the binary Unionist-Nationalist framework?
The Good Friday Agreement
How do "personal narratives" influence identity change?
Identity shifts through individual experiences and relationships.
What is conflict socialization?
The process by which exposure to intergroup conflict hardens social identities and reduces their flexibility.
What role does religion play in national identity formation in Northern Ireland?
Protestantism is historically linked to British unionism, while Catholicism is associated with Irish nationalism.
What role did Protestantism play in shaping British national identity?
It served as a uniying force against Catholic Europe, reinforcing a shared cultural and religious identity.
What demographic group is most likely to identity as Neither?
Women (61% in 2017)
What is an example of a "thick" identity?
An idenity deeply tied to traditions, values, and historical narratives, making it resistant to change.
What is the main difference in identity shifts between those who experience the Troubles and those who did not?
Those who lived through teh Troubles maintained rigid identities, while younger generations were more flexible.
What is the "siege mentality" among some Protestant communities?
A belief that their cultural identity is under threat due to demographic changes and political shifts.
How did war contribute to the development of British identity?
Continuous wars with France fosters national unity, strengthened military and financial institutions, and encouraged patriotism.
How does educaiton influence the Neither identity?
Neithers are more likely to have attended mixed/integrated schools and have higher education levels.
What is an example of de-essentialization in Northern Ireland?
Individuals rejecting national labels after experiencing exclusion from their own community.
How did the authors of the study use a "difference-in-differences" approach?
They compared identity shifts before and after Brexit, isolating the effect of conflict experience on national identity.
What are "neo-nationalists" and how do they differ from traditional Irish nationalists?
Neo-nationalists seek a united Ireland that includes all people, regardless of identity, and emphasize inclusivity over historical grievances.
Why does Colley argue that British national identity was "invested" rather than organic?
It was constructed through external conflicts rather than arising from internal consensus.
Why do Neithers struggle to form a strong alternative political movement?
The political system is structured around the Unionist-Nationalist divide, and Neithers tend to reject all parties rather than coalesce into one.