Youth Alienation and Communal Disorder: the role of young people in conflict and social disorder in Northern Ireland

The purpose of the study is to learn about the role of young people in local communities experiencing conflict and disorder. It is anticipated that the study will focus on locations in Belfast, Portadown and Derry Londonderry.

The Troubles have been overwhelmingly concentrated in Belfast, over 40 per cent of deaths occurred within the city even though it contains only 20 per cent of the regional population. The degree of spatial segmentation represented by peace-lines and by residential segregation according to religion in the subspaces of Belfast is much greater than for other areas of Northern Ireland. Recently 'clashes' between the two sides of the divide along peace-lines have become a common occurrence particularly in North Belfast. Youths have played a major role in the disturbances and indeed a 16 year-old male was killed during one of the recent riots.

In Portadown the disturbances have centred on the marching season in July, the protests related to the Orange Order's Drumcree Church parade heighten tensions during this period. The hostility and antagonisms generated by seven years of protests have ensured that clashes between rival groups of youths have become persistent, while the town centre is largely a no-go area for Catholic males.

In Derry Londonderry the central commercial area of the city has become an extremely dangerous place late at night as a result of the presence of rival gangs of youths, who although nominally from the same community, regard each other with hostility and antagonism. City centre violence has become a serious problem leading to demands for an increased police presence and the installation of a CCTV system to monitor the violence. To date such responses have been relatively ineffectual.

Key informants in each location will include young people, local residents, youth and community workers, community leaders, teachers, church leaders, police, politicians and the business community.

The aims are to:

The objectives are to:

The research will involve both qualitative methods (focus groups, interviews, case studies and workshops) and quantitative (drawing on a range of indicators to assess quality of life and the significance of violence as an ongoing factor impacting on local communities and relationships). The research project will be undertaken over a two-year period and will include an extensive programme of dissemination of findings.

The research project is funded by the Community Relations Council through the European Special Support Programme for Peace and Reconciliation.

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