Hearts and Minds, Water and Fish: Support for the IRA and INLA in a Northern Irish Ghetto Book

List of Photographs xiii

Acknowledgment xv

Prologue: "I'm Alive and Well, My Kneecaps Are Still Intact, and My Research Is Coming Along Fine" 1

Preliminary Considerations 1

Why Divis Flats? 4

Into the Breach 6

Theoretical Perspectives 7

Methodology 9

Objectivity, Nonobjectivity, and "Giving Aid and Comfort to die Enemy" 14

Confessions Before the Fact: Personal Values and Politics 17

Research in a Dangerous Environment 20

Research as Subjective Experience 33

Ethical Issues 36

I Introduction and Setting 43

Review of the History of Political Violence in Divis Flats 48

Hearts and Minds: The Politics of Support 63

Political Attitudes in Divis Flats 69

Interest in Politics 69

Political Efficacy 69

Support for Political Parties 70

Irish Nationalism 73

Political Violence 74

Political Pessimism 75

Conclusion 77

II The IRA and INLA in Divis Flats 81

The IRA 81

Community Defense 83

Sinn Fein 85

Social Control 88

IRA Morality and the Politics of Support 95

The INLA 99

III Is Divis Flats an "IRA Fortress" or "INLA Stronghold?" 105

IRA "Fortress?" 109

"Planet of the Urps?" 110

"Political Hotbed?" 111

Conclusion 113

IV Support for the IRA and INLA in Divis Flats 115

Support Based on Defense 120

Support Based on Social Control 123

Hard and Soft Support 136

Hard Support 137

Soft Support 138

Intimidation 144

See No Evil, Hear No Evil, Speak No Evil 146

Public Criticism of the IRA and INLA 147

Conclusion 151

V Counterinsurgency in Divis Flats 157

British Counterinsurgency 160

The Intimidation Theory of Guerrilla Support 164

Alienating Actions by the Security Forces 170

The Technology of Political Control 173

Plastic Bullets 175

Intelligence Gathering and the Application of Repressive Legislation 186

Abuse, Vandalism, Intimidation, and Harassment 206

Silent Too Long 214

Complaints Against the Security Forces 224

Conclusion 229

VI Political Violence and the Catholic Church in Divis Flats 237

The Catholic Church and Republican Violence 239

The Catholic Church in Divis Flats 245

Clerical Authority 247

The Clergy and Politics 251

An Example of the Republican Clergy Debate 258

Conclusion 262

VII Conclusion 265

Rioting in Divis Flats 265

Living with Political Violence 279

Review of Major Findings 288

Divis as IRA Fortress and INLA Stronghold 288

Support for the IRA and INLA in Divis Flats 289

Counterinsurgency in Divis Flats 295

Political Violence and the Catholic Church in Divis Flats 300

Final Comments 301

Appendix: Photographs 307

Bibliography 321

Supplemental Bibliography 327

Index 331