Why do ordinary people resort to war to achieve their political aims? What are the personal impacts of political violence for members of a divided society? And how do communities emerging from protracted conflict live with its emotional legacies? This module explores human experiences of the Northern Ireland Troubles, using personal narratives to re-tell the history of the conflict from the standpoint of individuals, families and groups who participated in, lived through, and were impacted by its 30- year history of violence. Focusing on the relationship between conflict, culture and human subjectivity, Civil War & the Self shows how historical analysis of personal perspectives, motivations and memories can enrich understanding of the causes, experience and consequences of civil war, and considers the value of such ‘human histories’ for the work of post-conflict reconciliation.
Combining close readings of key historical debates with in-depth case studies and practical exercises in the analysis of oral history narratives, students will acquire critical knowledge of the contested historiography of the Troubles, gain expertise in using personal narratives to research the human history of civil war, and deepen their understanding of the ethical, emotional and political importance of history for divided and post-conflict societies. Themes addressed include the human histories of Provisional IRA volunteers and British military personnel; civilian experiences of trauma, sectarian intimidation, and residential displacement; migrant histories of settlement and personal adaption in Troubles-era Britain; and the creative uses of oral history as a method of ‘conflict transformation’ in post-conflict Northern Ireland.