Publisher Description

Ideologies and identities are central to the organisation of political life and political conflict, yet most empirical studies tend to obscure their significance. This failure to take the politics of identity seriously arises from an absence of adequate theory and method. This study draws on both social theory and psychological (especially psychoanalytic) theory in an attempt to overcome these lacunae. First, it develops a novel theory and method for the analysis of ideology and identity. Second, it develops a detailed analysis of the politics of identity in Northern Ireland through focussing upon Unionist ideology and Unionist identities in crisis. The political conflict within Unionism is analysed through a consideration of the variety of unconscious rules drawn upon by political actors and citizens in the making of Northern Ireland's history of the present.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgements; Part I. Theory with an Empirical Intent: Theories of Ideology, Subjectivity and Intersubjectivity: 1. Competing paradigms in the study of intergroup relations; 2. Conceptualising ideology; 3. The structuration of ideology; 4. Ideology and affect; 5. Ideology and reasoning; Part II. The Analysis of an Ideology in Crisis: 6. Towards a depth-hermeneutics of Unionist ideology; 7. Crisis and the structuration of Unionist ideology, 1962–1969; 8. Crisis and the structuration of Unionist ideology, 1969–1975; Conclusion: The framework document and its discontents; Select bibliography; Index.

Review

"Cash makes an important contribution to the study of politics in Northern Ireland...provocative and interesting..." Choice

Promotional

A fresh theory of ideology explaining how identities of people and groups lead to embedded conflict.

Review Quote

"Cash makes an important contribution to the study of politics in Northern Ireland....provocative and interesting..." Choice

Promotional "Headline"

A fresh theory of ideology explaining how identities of people and groups lead to embedded conflict.

Description for Bookstore

Ideologies and identities are central to the organisation of political life and political conflict, yet most empirical studies tend to obscure their significance. This 1996 study draws on both social theory and psychological (especially pyschoanalytical) theory to understand the Northern Ireland conflict.

Description for Library

Ideologies and identities are central to the organisation of political life and political conflict, yet most empirical studies tend to obscure their significance. This 1996 study draws on both social theory and psychological (especially pyschoanalytical) theory to understand the Northern Ireland conflict.

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