ANNA-KAISA KUUSISTO-ARPONEN Our Places Their Spaces Urban Territoriality in the Northern Irish Conflict ACADEMIC DISSERTATION To be presented, with the permission of the Faculty of Economics and Administration of the University of Tampere, for public discussion in the Paavo Koli Auditorium of the University, Kanslerinrinne 1, Tampere, on April 25th, 2003, at 12 oclock% Acta Universitatis Tamperensis 920 University of Tampere Tampere 2003 ANNA-KAISA KUUSISTO-ARPONEN Our Places Their Spaces Urban Territoriality in the Northern Irish Conflict Acta Universitatis Tamperensis 920 T a m p e r e U n i v e r s i t y P r e s s Tampere 2003 ACADEMIC DISSERTATION University of Tampere, Department of Regional Studies and Environmental Policy Finland Distribution University of Tampere Bookshop TAJU Tel% +358 3 215 6055 P%O% Box 617 Fax +358 3 215 7685 33014 University of Tampere taju@uta%fi Finland http://granum%uta%fi Cover design by Juha Siro Layout Aila Helin Printed dissertation Electronic dissertation Acta Universitatis Tamperensis 920 Acta Electronica Universitatis Tamperensis 240 ISBN 951-44-5618-1 ISBN 951-44-5619-X ISSN 1455-1616 ISSN 1456-954X http://acta%uta%fi Tampereen yliopistopaino Oy Juvenes Print Tampere 2003 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS/KIITOKSET After the first few months in University I was sure that I would never become a researcher and I even doubted if Geography was really the subject I wanted to study. Now, seven years on, I am defending my PhD, I am a researcher and Geography (Regional Studies) is my discipline. I must admit that I am more than pleased with my choice. My academic career in Geography began first as a student and then as a post-graduate student in the University of Joensuu, in the Department of Geography. I want to thank some of my teachers: Professors Perttu Vartiainen, Ari Lehtinen and Jouni Häkli who guided me in the world of Geography. Special thanks go to Jouni, who became the supervisor for my Master’s thesis and thereafter for my post-graduate studies. Jouni, your encouragement and advice have been worth gold. I have been lucky to have this opportunity to learn from you. Especially, in times of academic confusion (and indeed there have been many of these) discussions with you have given me mental support. I also want to express my gratitude to Kristiina, Dave and Joni, who worked in the same research project of Borderland Studies. Being the youngest one in our team, I was named as “Baby Spice.” I have proudly carried that name, but moreover working with you all has been a pleasure. Joni, you have always made time to listen and to discuss academic topics or life in general. Whatever happens in the future, Joni, you can account on our deal: I’ll cut and you sweep. Conducting this research has taken place in several environments. I want to thank my colleagues in the Department of Geography in Joensuu and in the Department of Regional Studies and Environmental Policy in Tampere. During my year of field-work I was kindly hosted in INCORE, Derry/Londonderry, Northern Ireland. Special thanks are due to Mari, Gillian, Martin, Wanda, Paul, Roisin and Catherine. I also want express my gratitude to Hugh Callagher who gave me the opportunity to see his brilliant pictures of the city of Derry/Londonderry and who provided a few of these pictures to be used in my research. In-depth views on Northern Irish society were offered by many friends and colleagues; in particular I want to acknowledge the sixty-one people who took part in focus group interviews or individual interviews. Your experiences made this research possible. Finally, Maureen, your visions of the future and innovative ideas have amazed me for many years. It has been honour to work with you. Towards the end of this research I have had the opportunity to get comments on the manuscript from many people: Professor Anssi Paasi, Docent Pauliina Raento, Dr. Hille Koskela and Professor Jouni Häkli. Their several marginal annotations helped me to further improve and focus my work. Bentley Mathias patiently corrected my English. The layout was done by Aila Helin. Special thanks are due to Sini Tainio who draw the theme maps. This research was made possible by the funding of the Academy of Finland (project 42657). * * * * * * * * * Haluan kiittää niitä kaikkia ihmisiä, jotka ovat jakaneet kanssani tutkimustyön ulkopuolisen elämän iloja ja suruja. Lämmin kiitos ystävilleni: Hanna, Jenni, Merja ja Riikkaliisa. Kannustuksesta ja henkisestä tuesta kiitos, äidille, isälle, Paavolle, Arposille ja muille sukulai- sille. Omistan tämän työn rakkaimmilleni, Tomille, Lumille ja Sampolle. Tampere 25th February 2003 Anna-Kaisa Kuusisto-Arponen 5 TABLE OF CONTENTS ABSTRACT ............................................................................................................ 7 LIST OF FIGURES AND TABLES...................................................................... 9 I UNDERSTANDING THE NORTHERN IRISH CONFLICT .................. 11 Introduction ................................................................................................... 11 Friends and Enemies: Looking for a Vantage Point .................................. 13 The Historical and Geographical Trap ....................................................... 17 II LOCAL SETTING AND RESEARCH QUESTIONS ............................... 23 The Context of This Research ...................................................................... 24 Time and Place ......................................................................................... 24 Plot and Scene.......................................................................................... 28 Research Questions ....................................................................................... 31 Experiencing Territoriality........................................................................... 32 Experience as Narrative .......................................................................... 33 Methodological Points ............................................................................. 35 Local Voices ............................................................................................. 37 III APPROACHING TERRITORIALITY ...................................................... 43 From Urban Segregation to Local Territoriality........................................ 47 Place and the Sense of Belonging ................................................................. 52 Categorising Local Space.............................................................................. 57 Politicised Spatial Practices.......................................................................... 62 Territoriality as Discourse ............................................................................ 64 IV DIVIDED SPACES IN NORTHERN IRELAND....................................... 67 Historical Burden in Politics of Place ......................................................... 75 The Protestant Community: Weak Representative Landscape ................. 77 The Culturally Strong Catholic Community ............................................ 81 Divide and Conquer – the Tradition of Segregation in Northern Ireland ........................................................................................... 83 Divisions Deepen ..................................................................................... 88 Safeguarding the Territorial Identity ....................................................... 91 6 V LIFE IN THE CONTESTED TERRITORY OF L/DERRY ..................... 95 Settings and Players in the Borderlands ..................................................... 99 Borderlands in the City .......................................................................... 100 Players and One-sided Truths ................................................................ 102 Urban Territoriality as a Process ............................................................... 117 Constructing a Sense of Belonging ........................................................ 118 Claiming Territory ................................................................................. 128 Boundary Processes ............................................................................... 138 Being Part of Categorisation ...................................................................... 153 Coping Strategies ................................................................................... 154 Moving Beyond ...................................................................................... 159 Narratives............................................................................................... 162 VI THE PEACE PROCESS AS A CHALLENGE TO CATEGORISED REALITIES ................................................................................................. 167 Time for Peace and Political Consensus ................................................... 168 Scaling the Approach .................................................................................. 172 Solution – Crossing Borders .................................................................. 173 The Belfast Agreement and Stormont Politics in the Dawn of the New Millennium ........................................................................... 176 Localities Confront the Peace Reforms ................................................. 179 Conclusions: Learning to Co-exist ............................................................. 185 VII LIVING WITH THE OTHERS ................................................................