Redrawing history. Murals, collective memory and conflict transformation in Northern Ireland
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2023-12-04
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nl
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This thesis highlights the role of Northern Ireland’s murals in shaping collective memories and identities and how they have been used as tools for conflict transformation. Originating in the early twentieth century, murals initially reflected the Protestant ascendancy and British hegemony in the country. During the conflict, both communities started to use murals to express their political ideologies. The Catholic community embraced diverse themes, while the Protestant community’s murals largely featured paramilitary symbols. These murals shaped distinct collective memories, fostering an ‘us versus them’ mentality that perpetuated the conflict. The Re-imaging Communities Programme, launched after the Good Friday/Belfast Agreement of 1998, aimed to replace the more divisive murals with murals that had more positive imagery through community engagement. Such projects facilitated dialogue, reduced paramilitary influence, and replaced offensive murals with representations of community values. This thesis demonstrates that these initiatives contributed to conflict transformation by fostering relationships, increasing community participation, and reducing anxiety in previously contentious areas. Despite these positive effects, this thesis acknowledges that Northern Ireland remains a deeply divided society to this day. Because of that, a broader societal transformation is necessary in Northern Ireland for conflict transformation to be a success.
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Faculteit der Managementwetenschappen