Abstract
Truth recovery mechanisms have become a cornerstone of peacebuilding efforts in societies emerging from conflict. Yet, to date, the view of victims in post-conflict societies concerning such arrangements remains highly anecdotal and often second-hand in nature. Mindful of this omission and using Northern Ireland as a case study, this article investigates the views of victims towards a range of mechanisms to deal with the legacy of Northern Ireland's violent past. Based on the 2011 Northern Ireland Social and Political Attitudes Survey, the results suggest some marked divisions in relation to this issue, with victims within the Catholic community being significantly more supportive of such initiatives than either Protestants or those with no religion. Moreover, while perceptions of victimhood emerge as the key predictor of attitudes among Protestants and the non-affiliated, general opinions on how to deal with the past are the key determinant of views among members of the Catholic community.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 512-530 |
| Number of pages | 19 |
| Journal | British Journal of Politics and International Relations |
| Volume | 17 |
| Issue number | 3 |
| Early online date | 20 May 2014 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 1 Aug 2014 |
Bibliographical note
The 2011 Northern Ireland Social and Political Attitudes Survey was collected by John D. Brewer and Bernadette C. Hayes and funded by the Leverhulme Trust under the Compromise After Conflict Programme, grant number F/00/152/AK.Keywords
- victims
- truth recovery processes
- Northern Ireland
- post-conflict societies
- peacebuilding