Citation

Trumbore PF. Terrorism Polit. Violence 2018; 30(3): 524-543.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2018, Informa - Taylor and Francis Group)

DOI

10.1080/09546553.2016.1192540

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

More than a decade on, the Northern Ireland peace process can largely be considered a success. Despite the failure of the Provisional Republican Movement to achieve a united Ireland free of British control, the large-scale violence of "The Troubles" has been relegated to the past. Applying the logic of coercive diplomacy, this study examines the role of threats and the use of selective and limited violence by the Provisional Movement to manage real and potential opponents and challengers that have emerged within its own ideological ranks to maintain its position of dominance and prevent a spoiling of the peace process. This study shows that the Provisional Movement retained the capability to employ violence and demonstrated the credibility of coercive threat through a willingness to use force against its opponents on the Republican spectrum, and was able to do so with a high degree of impunity.

Language: en

Keywords

Dissident Republicans; Irish Republican Army; Northern Ireland; peace process; Sinn Féin; spoilers