ICR Research: Current projects

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 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 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:

investigate the role played by young people in inter and intra community disorder and violence;
explore the factors facilitating their participation in disorder and violence;
determine the nature of their attitudes towards their own and neighbouring communities.

The objectives are to:

ascertain the factors that contribute to young people's involvement in street violence, rioting and forms of anti-social behaviour;
investigate community responses to such violence;
establish the range of options for help for communities and young people;
assess alternative forms of response to such behaviour.

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.

This research project is funded by the Community Relations Council through the EU Programme for Peace and Reconciliation.

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