A critical appraisal of the case for progressive unionism in Northern Ireland today

2024/01/02 by Dean Farquhar · 1 voice
Arts and Humanities · Social Sciences · #Irish and British Studies #Political and Economic history of UK and US #Scottish History and National Identity

paper · pdf · doi:10.1080/07907184.2023.2296680

openalex publication_date 2024/01/02 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/03/10

Abstract

This paper examines the case for progressive unionism in Northern Ireland today. The paper locates the progressive currents within unionism and explains the forces that have frustrated their development. It contends that analysis of the leadership provided by unionists in civil society and the attitudinal profile of the pro-union electorate nonetheless signals the existence of space to cultivate more progressive forms of unionism. This challenges the largely negative appraisals of unionism in popular discourse. Unionism is shown to possess a diversity and potential that is often unrecognised. The paper therefore promotes a more sophisticated understanding of unionism and its possible political futures.

Citations

• Deliberative Democracy or Agonistic Pluralism?

Discussions

• Check out this paper I had published by Irish Political Studies exploring progressive unionism in Northern Ireland. doi.org/10.1080/0790... [bsky, 0 points, 0 comments]

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