“An exploration of the main elements of Need Theory that align with causes of conflict and Need Theory as a conflict resolution approach to be applied to the analysis of resolution of Northern Ireland Conflict”.
“An exploration of the main elements of Need Theory that align with causes of conflict and Need Theory as a conflict resolution approach to be applied to the analysis of resolution of Northern Ireland Conflict”.
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Date
2022
Authors
Maria Jaqueline Fiuza
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Abstract
The objectives of this research are an exploration of what are the main elements of need
theory that align with the causes of conflict in the Northern Ireland Conflict and whether Need
Theory as an approach can be applied to an analysis of the resolution of the Northern Ireland
Conflict.
The methodological approach of this study was based on constructivism philosophy that is
a type of perspective that combines with interpretivism, interpretive because researchers
have to make sense of the subjective and socially created meanings that people have about
the phenomenon they are studying. Consequently, the method chosen was qualitative
research and a deductive approach testing an existent theory and as a strategy the analysis
of the Northern Ireland conflict as a case study, encompassing the period of the partition of
Northern Ireland- 1920 to the Good Friday Agreement and its implications up to present day.
The collection of primary data was through semi-structured interviews, where five people
were interviewed, two from Republic of Ireland and three from Northern Ireland.
The main finding of this study is that the primary cause of the conflict was the clash between
two groups with different identities, over the Northern Ireland constitution. Catholics/
nationalists connected with Irish/Catholic identity, as a result, wanted to be part of the
Republic of Ireland, and Protestant/unionists connected with British/Protestant identity, that
wanted to maintain a constitutional link to Britain, identity needs being the main link with
BHNs theory. Also, the causes of conflict were over inequalities, which can be linked to
distributive justice need, along with meaning need, due to the lack of participation of the
Catholics/nationalists in the political system, security in the first place associated with
Unionists that monopolized the political power, but with the escalation of the conflict going
to extreme violence was a need of society as a whole. Thus, the BHNs approach can be
applied as an approach to the analysis of the Northern Ireland Conflict. Also, the paired role
of the British and Irish governments, John Hume advocating to push the peace process
along with the openness of the unionist leader David Trimble were a crucial to getting the
agreement ratified.
These findings contribute to a better understanding of the causes of deep-rooted conflicts
that are intrinsically connected with basic human needs that are ignored by social structure-
political systems, being actors of the conflict co-dependents on social structure and social
structure dependent on the actors, since the actors are an intrinsic part of it.
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Fiuza, 2022