The gun in politics : analysis of Irish Political Conflict, 1916-1986 / J. Bowyer Bell.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Bell, J. Bowyer, 1931- author.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Political violence--Ireland--History--20th century.

Political violence.

Firearms--Ireland--History--20th century.

Firearms.

Ireland--Politics and government--20th century.

Ireland.

Northern Ireland--Politics and government--1968-1998.

Northern Ireland.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (382 pages)

Place of Publication:

London : Routledge, 2017.

Summary:

"Irish history sounds a long litany of grievance and vengeance--lost battles, escaped earls, and institutionalized injustice. The gun, certainly in this century, has played a prominent part. In The Gun in Politics, J. Bowyer Bell presents the story of one Ireland--the Ireland of the Troubles--and about an approach to understanding political violence. In particular, he examines the Irish Republic Army, the longest-enduring unsuccessful revolutionary organization. He de-scribes the covert world of gunmen and the great game they play in the street.His is a lively, telling account of sophisticated weapons transfer, of the impact of civil war on society, and of appropriate democratic responses to terrorism. Bell's association with active Republicans, his endless tea seminars at the United Irishman, drinks at Hennessy's, and constant conversation throughout Ireland on political matters over a period of twenty years has provided the author with unique background for this guide to a fascinating, though brutal, undercurrent of Irish history."--Provided by publisher.

Contents:

chapter Introduction: A Personal Memoir

part Part I: The IRA Past as Prologue

chapter 1 Arms and the Volunteer

chapter 2 The Thompson Submachine Gun in Ireland

chapter 3 Proliferation: Sophisticated Weapons and Revolutionary Options

part Part II: The Irish Past as Prologue: Patterns, Probes, Wars, and Warriors

chapter 4 Societal Patterns and Lessons

chapter 5 Ireland and the Spanish Civil War, 1936-39

chapter 6 The Curragh: 1940-45

chapter 7 The Shadow of the Gunman, 1969

chapter 8 The Secret Army, 1969

part Part III: The Ulster Troubles Since 1969: Old Myths, Old Realities, and Alien Perspectives

chapter 9 The Escalation of Insurgency, 1969-71

chapter 10 Strategy, Tactics, and Terror, 1969-74

chapter 11 Men with Guns: The Legitimacy of Violent Dissent

chapter 12 Revolts Against the British Crown

chapter 13 On Revolt: An Irish Template

chapter 14 Democracy and Armed Conspiracy, 1922-77

chapter 15 Terrorism: Nets and Oceans

chapter 16 Terror International: The Nature of the Threat

chapter 17 Hostage Ireland, 1976, 1982

part Part IV: The Ulster Troubles: New Surveys, New Problems, and Analytical Perspectives

chapter 18 Terrorism International: Academic Branch

chapter 19 Contemporary Irish Archival Resources

chapter 20 The Chroniclers of Violence in Northern Ireland: The First Wave, 1972

chapter 21 The Chroniclers of Violence in Northern Ireland Revisited, 1974

chapter 22 The Troubles as Trash: Shadows of the Irish Gunman on America.

Notes:

First published 1987 by Transaction Publishers.

Description based on print version record.

ISBN:

1-351-48168-1

1-315-13240-0

1-351-48169-X

9781315132402

OCLC:

1005539104