The Core and the Periphery and Northern Ireland

Introduction: The core-periphery relationship is one that is both interesting and dynamic. The coreperiphery relationship is defined as a core or strong state, influences the periphery through imperialism. The core has a core and periphery within this strong state, while the periphery also has a core and periphery. This relationship is important because it can have severed effects on a states political, economic, and social future. Northern Ireland is a prime example of this relationship. The historical relationship resembles imperialism and a core-periphery dynamic and continues to exist today. This is particularly applicable to nglo-Irish relations over Northern Ireland. This can be seen in social, political and economic issues of Northern Ireland. Background: History The influence of !reat "ritain on Ireland began around the #$%%s around when &ennery 'II assumed the throne in !reat "ritain. This would mar( the time of anarchy in Ireland and would continue with )ueen *li+abeth I. In #$,- *li+abeth waged wars against Ireland in an effort to ta(e control of the territory. Ireland however would not start following *nglish law until #,%. when /ing 0ames came to power. &e began to enforce *nglish law and especially in 1lster 2/ee, #%3. It was soon after /ing 0ames rise to power, that *ngland began to coloni+e Ireland. Their purpose of coloni+ation was to turn a profit and provide settlers of 4cottish, and *nglish dissent a place to live and wor(. 5and, especially in 6erry 2northern Tip of Ireland3 would be used by 5ondon companies to allow 4cottish and *nglish settlers to wor( and provide for their families 2/ee, 7#3.

In 1lster, *ngland had instituted a large settlement of 4cottish and *nglish people that had ta(en over mainly !aelic lands 2/ee, 7-3. The coloni+ation of this land would create a hostility in the North that can still be today in Northern Ireland. "ut it was not only the settlement of !aelic land that caused tension. It was also the religious difference between the general population of Protestant 4cotts and *nglish, against the Catholic !aelic8s. s time went on the *nglish government became more anti- catholic creating a never ending hostility of civil war and turmoil. The nglo-Irish treaty came out after the nglo-Irish war that began as a rebellion against 1./. rule 2The 9ffice of *lectronic Information3. It was Ireland8s hope to become a :ree Irish state, and !reat "ritain had proposed a solution. 1nder this treaty !reat "ritain stated that any county in Ireland that wished to form a free Ireland could do so with two important conditions. The first, the territory of 1lster that consisted of , counties would remain under *nglish rule. The second, the people then must submit an oath pledging loyalty to /ing !eorge 2/ee, #;#-#;-3. This did not settle well with some people because Tyrone and :ermanagh, two large Catholic communities, were residing in 1lster. The other reason being some didn8t agree with the signing because of the oath to /ing !eorge &owever it was signed by Irish parliament even with this aligning with !reat "ritain 2/ee, #;.3. This split would send the country into a civil war the Irish Nationalist against the <epublicans that lasted until #;-. 2/ee, -%#3. The war would be won by the Irish Nationalist or those in favor of the Irish :ree 4tate and signed the treaty. s The <epublic of Ireland separated from the north 2#;.;3 political systems in the north began to form. The 1nionist group formed which remained loyal to the *nglish

crown. 1nionists were generally Protestants Christians, while Catholics in the North still associated with the Nationalist movement in the south 2984ullivan, #=73. In the #;,%s civil rights activist began to campaign for e>ual rights Catholic Nationalist in Northern Ireland. This push for e>uality in Ireland is what started the Troubles and political violence began to brea( out. &owever, it would not be until pril #%th #;;? that an agreement would finally be made to (eep the peace. 9n that day the !ood :riday greement 2"elfast greement3 was put into place 2Coulter, -3. The !ood :riday greement was meant to redistribute power between both Nationalist, and 1nionist 2Coulter, =3. It also reassures 1nionist that Northern Ireland will remain part of the 1/, unless a ma@ority vote on the Island is ta(en 2Coulter, .3. Applicable Theories: This paper will focus mainly on the different theories of imperialism, and their application to imperialism in Ireland. Theorist such as 0ohan !altung, 5enin, and &obson expand on the ideas of imperialism and their effects. The first theorist is 5enin. 5enin discusses that it is possible to have different levels of imperialism, some being more dependant than others 2Chilcote #,3. &e believed that imperialism can discourage development in countries affected by imperialism. "ut if colonialism is bro(en between the strong state and the wea( state, the wea( state has a better chance at success. 5enin believed that imperialism was not by choice of the strong states, and that economics drove a state to this course. "y perusing imperialism, it is a way for strong states to save their economies 2/auppi #;=3. This would be pursued after strong states natural resources were used up. 5enin did agree with some of &obson8s theories 2/auppi #;,3.

&obson argued that under consumption and overproduction would cause strong capitalist states to loo( towards colonialism to fix economic problems 2/auppi #;,3. The main difference between &obson and 5enin however was the intention for imperialism. &obson argued that economics were not the only reason for imperialism. :orces such as the en@oyment of con>uest drive states to act out. There is one more theorist ho has (ey ideas of imperialism. !altung expanded on the ideas of the core and the periphery in this article A structural Theory of ImperialismB. The core would refer to the dominate state exerting power over a wea(er state 2the periphery3 2!altung ?-3. !altung defines imperialism as the followingC Ain our town nation world, imperialism can be defined as one way in which the Core nation has power over the Periphery nation, so as to bring about a condition of disharmony of interest between themB. !altung argues that there is a core and periphery in both strong states and the wea( states where imperialism is inflicted. The Core creates a core within the periphery that consist of its8 own core. This provided them a harmonious relationship between the two states 2!altung ?.3. This imperialism happens in three steps according to !altung. The first phase of imperialism is the core of the periphery is created by the Core of strong state. They occupy the Periphery in the form of coloni+ation. The second phase is the Core of the strong state continues to interact with the core of the periphery, engaging in neo-imperialism. Neo imperialism implies instead of using direct military force, the core would use capitalism, and its own cultural values continue control of the periphery. The third phase is the phase of communication. This is when the connection between the core and periphery can begin to fade. "ut it is through the communication of the core

with in the periphery and the Core of the strong state, that a connection is maintained 2!altung ;73. !altung also expands on the idea that within the periphery the core created will grow faster than the periphery because of the relationship 2!altung ?73. In an imperialistic relationship the core will provide ways to further the raw goods the periphery provides. This idea continues into politics, where the core provides the decisions while the periphery obeys 2!altung ;-3. In the relationship of the core and periphery, the core dominates socially, politically and economically. This can be seeing in the relationship between the 1./. and especially Northern Ireland. Arguments: Social manifestations: In 1lster, *ngland had instituted a large settlement of 4cottish and *nglish people that had ta(en over mainly !aelic lands 2/ee, 7-3. The coloni+ation of this land would create a hostility in the North that can still be today in Northern Ireland. "ut it was not only the settlement of !aelic land that caused tension. It was also the religious difference between the general population of Protestant 4cotts and *nglish, against the Catholic !aelic8s. s time went on the *nglish government became more anti- catholic creating a never ending hostility of civil war and turmoil. This historical example showcases the core periphery relationship beginning to form. !altung discusses the first phase of imperialism where the core of the periphery is created by the Core of strong state. &e defines this as coloni+ation 2!altung ;73. The 1./. created a core within Ireland especially in 1lster. "y having 4cottish, and *nglish settlers

coloni+e the land, this gave the 1./. a direct power over the land of the people. This coloni+ation would result in ma@or social ine>uality. The social ine>uality would emerge through the neo-imperialism from the 1./. The neo-imperialism forced *nglish cultural and religious values on to Ireland. It was stressed even more in 1lster, where there was large conflicting divide between the people. The core of Northern Ireland was created by the 1./., thus ta(ing away power from the !aelic catholic people. "y ta(ing away power, and implementing laws that would benefit the core of Ireland, ine>uality began to emerge in politics and economics. This social ine>uality would extend into modern day politics of the Troubles period. The Troubles period was a .% year period of hostility between the 1nionist 2Catholics3 and nationalist 2Christians3. It was a time where each side was struggling to balance power, but this period was created by ine>uality. 4ocial ine>uality between Catholics and Christians had been building for decades. fter these ine>ualities were created, and amplified by the core of the Ireland, it led to Catholics outwardly protesting for change 2Coulter =3. 4ocial ine>uality would decline in the form of political and economic ine>uality through the creation of the !ood :riday greement. "ut the lingering hostility between the two religions would not be forgotten. In an article written by 6onald D. 4hriver titled A&ealing in Northern IrelandC 4omething li(e :orgivenessB, he expands the troubles people are still facing in -%%?. In the article he discusses how there is a desire to ma(e amends between the two, but no way to execute this idea. The segregation in Northern Ireland is deep and heavy segregation still exists 24hriver ##3.

Political Arguments:

The deep segregation in Northern Ireland today can be traced bac( to the original coloni+ation. 6uring /ing 0ames reign he installed the first Penal laws #,;$ which went against Catholics living in Ireland. It said they would not be able to hold any office of power in Parliament, and limited how long they were able to lease land for. The laws never truly outlawed the practice of the Catholic faithE it @ust made it much harder to survive 2/ee, $,3. 4ome Catholics even went to the extreme of switching to the Protestant faith in order to be represented politically 2/ee, $,3. It was at this point that *ngland was starting to create and enforce more *nglish laws upon the people of Ireland. "ut in the late #=%%s change began to ta(e place in Ireland. The Penal laws in #,;$ are an example of neo-imperialism discussed by !altung. The core 2the 1./.3 inflicts laws upon Northern Ireland 2periphery3 in order to control them 2!altung ;73. The imperialism had shifted from the military invasion of Northern Ireland to an indirect political force. The problem with this political force is it is exclusionary to the other citi+ens of Ireland. The Penal laws excluded Catholics from holding any position in government. In #?%$ and #?%? parliament continually re@ected Catholics re>uest for political emancipating 2"ew, ?=3. "y instituting this, the 1./. has created a core with in the periphery, allowing them to maintain control. s a result the core of the periphery will grow much faster than the periphery, politically. !altung explains this by stating the core creates the laws, while the periphery follows them 2!altung ?73. If the Irish Catholics are not ma(ing laws or involved in government, due to segregation, they will not expand or grow politically. "ecause the core was so strong in the North it could be argued that it was a significant reason why Northern Ireland did not gain sovereignty along with Ireland.

The issues of sovereignty are very important when analy+ing the relationship of the core- periphery, especially in Northern Ireland. Irish rule first came about in legal form during the #;%%s with the creation of the &ome <ule "ill. The bill passed through parliament in a series of bills which the Nationalist 2Catholics3 favored. This was creating the possibility for Ireland to govern them, and ta(e steps towards sovereignty. &owever this was not accepted among 1nionist 2Christians3 who were considered the core. They feared Ireland would actually brea( away, resulting in 1lster unionist ta(ing up arms and forming the 1lster 'olunteer force in #;## 2&ennessy, .3. In addition, 1nionist split Northern Ireland up into , county parliaments ntrim, rmagh, 6own, 5ondonerry, :emanagh, and Tyrone. This division would support the 1nionist party 2&ennessy, 7, ;3. "ecause the core within the periphery was so strong, it prevented Ireland from succeeding fully from the 1./. The core-periphery relationship was inhibiting the political growth of Catholics. s mentioned earlier, the nglo-Irish Treaty would officially ma(e Ireland sovereign, even though the <epublic of Ireland would not be created until #;.; 2/ee, #.3. The presence of the 1./. core in Northern Ireland would allow the North to stay in tac(ed to the 1./. This was and is a problem, mainly becauseE two of the largest Catholic communities 2Tyrone and :ermanagh3 were forced to remain loyal to a crown that oppressed them. 5enin would argue that because the rest of Ireland succeeded from the 1./. they had a better chance of succeeding politically 2/auppi #;=3. Today Ireland has a parliamentary government that consists of president who serves a term of = years, and a prime minster. The state is has a national religion of Catholicism which consists of ??F of the

population 2The 9ffice of *lectronic Information3. s a result the creation of a state that not only that consisted of people with the same political goals, but a state with no outside core, would allow Catholic Irish to grow politically. They would no be able to participate in government, allowing them to propel themselves away from a core-periphery relationship. Northern Ireland however did not have this luxury. It would ma(e sense that Northern Ireland would not succeed with the rest of Ireland, because of the core. The core as !altung describes it was engaging in the third stage of imperialism. They were continually communicating with one another, preserving that core-periphery relationship 2!altung ?73. The Core-Periphery relationship would dyne sovereignty recognition to the North, and would continue to intrude itself. The creation of Northern Ireland would result in the deaths of .%. Catholics, and #=- Protestants, and ?# members of police and "ritish rmy between, #;-%-#;-- 2&ennessy ##3. This frustrated the ma@ority of Northern Ireland, because a ma@ority of Northern Ireland was Catholic, and still had no say in government. This frustration would be expressed in the Troubles. s discussed earlier the social ine>uality between Protestant Christians and Catholics, has shown itself through politics. This political ine>uality continued throughout the #;%%s creating hostilities leading up to and during the Troubles. In the years leading up to the Troubles significant political movement of the 4inn :ein group in The <epublic of Ireland, had began to spread its ideas in Northern Ireland The 4inn :ein group stands for a Ireland that is free of "ritish imperialism. fter the succession of southern Ireland, they wanted the north to follow suit. &owever the movement did not prove effective, but civil rights movements for Catholics began to ta(e off.

It is argued that the civil rights movement for Irish Catholics around #;,% is what led to the troubles period brea(ing out. Gears of hostility and aggression began being displayed violently, as the Catholic community advocated for e>ual wages, and the end of discrimination in the wor( place, and the balance of power in government. In #;=- nearly $%% people died as a result of political violence relevant to the Troubles 2*nglish, -73. It would not be until pril #%th #;;? that an agreement would finally be made to (eep the peace. The !ood :riday greement aimed at redistributing power between Nationalist, and 1nionist. It was the hope that by giving each side e>ual power, it would ease political and social tensions. A:urthermore, the two most senior positions in the proposed *xecutiveH the :irst and 6eputy :irst IinistersHhave to attract the support of both nationalist and unionist Iembers of the 5egislative ssembly 2I5 s3B 2Coulter, .3. The remaining seats in assembly would be divided up e>ually between the two parties. The agreement also called for an independent police force because historically it consisted of mainly Protestants. It was argued that the Protestants police discriminated against he catholic community. :inally, it called for a &uman <ights Commission and *>uality Commission that protect human rights and e>uality 2Coulter .3. The !ood :riday agreement has an interesting section to it that preserves the core-periphery relationship. 1nder the !ood :riday greement, it states that Northern Ireland would maintain part of the 1./. &owever, AJthe text affirms that any change to the constitutional status of the region can happen only with concurrent electoral consent of people living in both @urisdictions on the islandB 2Coulter .3. Dhat this means is that if Northern Ireland wants to succeed it can. &owever it must have the ma@ority vote of both people living in

Northern Ireland, and in 4outhern Ireland. The fact that the 1./. is still maintaining neocolonial control over Ireland, means that Ireland as an Island is still under the coreperiphery influence. Iore in Northern Ireland, than 4outhern Ireland. 4ince the 1./. created the Protestant core, it doesn8t matter if the 1./. isn8t outwardly pursing Imperialism. !altung would argue that the core within the periphery will always have that connection communication with 1./. The only way to brea( this influence is if everyone on the Island agrees to succeed. &owever, the troubles period is a clear indication that result will not happen because it would have occurred already. The core8s control over the North is @ust too strong and deeply rooted within the country. The coreperiphery doesn8t only manifest itself in the political realm, it also present in the economics of Northern Ireland. Economic Arguments: The economic core-periphery relationship began during early coloni+ation especially in 1lster. s mentioned earlier the coloni+ation of Ireland began with 4cottish and *nglish settlers settling land that previously belonged to the !aelic Catholics. The land was ta(en and given to the settlers where they would wor( the land for a profit. &owever under the guidance of the 1./. government, colonist could not allow Irish tenets to live and wor( on the farms. Instead #%F of the land was given bac( to the Irish but they had to pay double the rent 2/ee, 7%3. Dhat has been created here coloni+ation without any regard for the Catholics. The *nglish government was clearly trying to ma(e a profit by using Ireland8s natural resources. "y creating a core within the periphery, and exploiting the periphery class within the periphery state the 1./. was able to accomplish beyond @ust control of land. In

"elfast the Irish were responsible for building ships and linens for the "ritish *mpire. In addition to this !reat "ritain had created laws which restricted the Irish economy. 5aws that outlaw specific industries and exports to avoid competition within Ireland, but removed tariffs on Irish industrial goods 298&earn .%=3 the intensions of this creation are important as well. 5ee would argue that this imperialism by the 1./. would have been pursued for purely economic reasons. &e would say that the 1./. had no other choice economically. 5oo(ing bac( in the #?%%s, the 1./. was mainly an industrial state, and had exploited most of its natural resources 2/auppi #;=3. Clearly their motives for imperialism were economic, however, I am doubtful that if they hadn8t coloni+ed Ireland, that their economy would have fallen apart. would have to agree with &obson8s ideas of Imperialism. That they are pursed because the state has the economic means to do so 2/auppi #;$3. The 1./. had the economic and military forces to coloni+e and create a core-periphery relationship that would last for decades. The Core-periphery relationship between the two states continued in the years leading up to and during the troubles period. In Northern Ireland between #;=;-?- the unemployment rate doubled to nearly #7F. 6uring the #;=%s and #;?%s a catholic was -., more times li(ely to unemployed than a protestant. 6uring the Trouble Periods Catholics were outcaste by employers causing them to have lower paying @obs, live in sever economic constraints 2&ennessy .=--.?3. It would not be until #;?; when "ritish government finally amended the :air *mployment gency 2:*C3, that laws to protect against discrimination would be enforced. In #;;7 the finally saw a drop in unemployment from ,.F to .=F 2&ennessy

-.;--7%3. It is clear that a core periphery relationship exists within the economic of Northern Ireland. The indication of Catholics being -., times more li(ely to be unemployed shows that there is an interwor(ing effect on the Catholic 5abor force. s !altung has stated the core within the periphery has dominated economics because of its connection to the core. :rom the very beginning of the creation of the core within the periphery, the core has always had an upper had. The core was given the economic tools and resources to be successful, while still oppressing the periphery. The same has occurred here. 9ld imperialism and coloni+ation has continued to show within the catholic community because they were never given the tools to succeed. Instead they were continuously and purposely not hired by the core 2Protestants3 all because of their faith. If the "ritish government has to create legislation to combat the discrimination, and hostile core they created, it shows that some in@ustice has been served. Analysis: fter reviewing all of the arguments and facts there are some basic >uestions that still need to be answered. The first who really has the power in Northern IrelandK s previously discussed the historical and modern day relationship between Northern Ireland and the 1./. is that of the core-periphery. 9riginally, the core was the 1./. and inflicted colonialism on Ireland. 9ver time colonialism became neo-colonialism, only needing political influence to maintain the relationship. &owever there is a specific group within the core and the periphery relationship, which has the real power.

Dhen the 1./. coloni+ed Ireland, they created a core within Ireland. The core consisted of Protestant and 4cottish settlers. These groups were given the economic and political advantages to grow faster than the periphery of Ireland 2Catholics.3 This is the group that has the real power in Northern Ireland. They have the real power because of several reasons. :irstly they have maintained a strong connection with the crown of *ngland. This connection has allowed the imperialism to be preserved, without the coreE the 1./. would have had a hard time maintaining a strong hold on Northern Ireland. The second reason the core has maintained the real power in Ireland, because the core has controlled the ma@or political and economic outcomes of this area. The core has done this through oppressing and discriminating Catholics. The evidence of this is in unemployment rates, and legislation that has been created to combat such discrimination. If the core didn8t have such significant power these issues would never have came up. In conclusion I would argue that after the separation of Northern and 4outhern Ireland, the core of Northern Ireland has maintained the power in Ireland.

Conclusion: The core and periphery relationship has been one that has stood the test of time. It has made a significant appearance in politics, economics, and society. The core-periphery relationship has changed over time from colonialism, to neo-colonialism. It is in the neocolonial state that has allowed the core within the periphery had to maintain power over Northern Ireland. This concept does not only apply to Ireland, but other *uropean colonies that never fully removed *uropean influence. Ireland was unable to fully remove *uropean influence because it was so strong imbedded in the state. In this situation, the

only way to remove all *uropean influence on Ireland is to remove the population which is associated with the influence. &owever, the execution is nearly impossible and unattainable. &owever, if Northern Ireland can put its social, political, and economic differences aside, and unite together with the <epublic of Ireland, there may be hope for true sovereignty for the Island of Ireland. Dor( Cited "ew, Paul. Ireland. New Gor(C 9xford 1niversity Press, -%%=. Print. Chilcote, <onald &. LClassical Interpretations of 6evelopment and 1nderdevelopment.L Theories of Development and Underdevelopment. "oulderC Destview Press, Inc., #;?7. #.-#?. Print. Coulter, Colin. Northern Ireland After the Troubles. New Gor(C Ianchester 1niversity Press, -%%?.Print. 6aniel, !lyn. Early Christian Ireland. 5ondonC Thames and &udson, #;$?. Print. *nglish, <ichard. LComing to terms with the pastC Northern Ireland.L History Today 20uly -%%73C-7--,. Academic OneFile. Deb. #. Nov. -%##. !altung, 0ohan. L 4tructural Theory of Imperialism.L ournal of !eace "esearch ?.- 2-%%,3C ?#-##=.!ro#uest Central. Deb. #. Nov. -%##. &ennessey, Thomas. A History of Northern Ireland. New Gor(C 4t. IartinMs Press, 4cholarly and <eference 6ivision, #;;=. Print. &ughes, 0oanne. LCommunity <elations in Northern Ireland, a shift in attitudes.L ournal of Ethnic and $i%ration &tudies -;.7 2-%%.3C ,7.-,,#. Academic OneFile. Deb. #. Nov. -%##. /auppi, Iar( '. L!lossary.L International "elations Theory. $th ed. "ostonC 5ongman, -%#%. Print. /ee, <obert. Ireland A History. "ostonC 5ittle, "rown and Company,

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4hriver, 6onald D., and Peggy 5. 4hriver. L4omething 5i(e :orgiveness.L Christian Century -$ Iar.-%%7C ##-#-. Academic OneFile. Deb. #. Nov. -%##. The 9ffice of *lectronic Information, "ureau of Public ffairs. LIreland.L U)&) Department of &tate. N.p., , pr. -%##. Deb. .# 9ct.-%##. NhttpCOOwww.state.govOrOpaOeiObgnO.#?%.htmPeconQ.