Literature 4 - Guest Lecture Provisional IRA

Question 1

What is Dowlings literature about?

Answer 1

The internal brakes on violent escalation

Question 2

What are the 5 brakes on violent escalation in Dowlings literature?

Answer 2

1. the strategic logic,
   a. The strategic logic refers to the notion that groups might choose to limit the use of violence if other non-violent means can prove more effective in pursuing their immediate or long-term strategic needs.
   b. The strategic logic might prompt various “strategic” brakes to work if there is a growing realisation within a group that they are no longer capable of beating their opponents through force alone, that violence is undermining support from a wider support base or from non-violent allies, or if oppor-tunities to pursue their objectives through the political process or other non-violent means arise
   c. Ex. Skepticism over ability to beat opponents militarily (e.g: incidents such as Loughall Ambush 1987 where PIRA incurred big losses)
   d. Concern that violence will undermine support for group (aftermath of Warrington 1992
2. the moral logic,
   a. The moral logic plays on the concept of the “logic of appropriateness,” meaning that, in some instances, the group’s understanding of what constitutes morally justified violence changes
   b. Changing moral logics may lead to braking if the group re-defines what they deem proportional or justified action by its members.
   c. For example, if the norms surrounding engaging in certain forms of violence or in targeting particular groups change, groups may cease to engage in certain types of attacks
   d. Ex. The PIRA’s moral logic changed as they faced public backlash for killing civilians and using proxy bombs, which they could not justify as part of their struggle for Irish freedom
3. the logic of ego maintenance,
   a. The logic of ego-maintenance concerns how intra-group processes shape the group’s overall identity and stance on the use of violence. A group might wish to self-identify as one that is either non- violent or one that limits their use of violence.
   b. This brake might be prompted if the group begins to form a collective identity that centres on non-violence, which may lead them to disassociate from more extremist flanks within the wider movement, or to sanction those within the group who engage in excessive violence
   c. Ex. The PIRA’s collective identity and self-image influenced their decision to distance themselves from the more radical RIRA, who they publicly condemned for the Omagh bombing
4. the logic of out-group definition
   a. The logic of out-group definition accounts for the potential softening of boundaries with an out-group initially portrayed as enemies. For example, attempts at reconciliation might lead to the discovery of common ground, or establish ties of friendship between negotiators, raising obstacles to a return to violence
   b. Ex. The PIRA’s boundaries with their loyalist adversaries softened after the GFA, as they had to cooperate and share power in the new political structures. They also engaged in cross-community dialogue and reconciliation efforts at the grassroots level
5. the organisational logic
   a. The organisational logic refers to the decisions taken by the organisation’s leadership that limit a group’s capacity to engage in violent activity. The organisational logic cannot be discussed in isolation, as it is very much impacted by changing strategic and moral logics that ultimately lead to organisational change, development, and potential restructur-ing.
   b. This brake might be prompted by group-level decision-making that result in the group divesting in its violent capabilities, deprioritising far-reaching revolutionary goals in pursuit of more immedi-ate-term ones, or in creating more space for non-violent activism

Question 3

What is the Historical context to the PIRA?

Answer 3

 Historical and Socio-political context
 British colonial rules goes back centuries
 Irish asserted their demand for independence many times before success
 1916- Watershed moment for irish republivcanism
 1921- Anglo-Irish threaty for indepence for most of the Irish provinces
 1970-1989 Armed Campaign to remove British rule from ni using bombings etc against UK targets.
 Internal Brakes on violent escalation
 Strategic brake
 Moral brake
 Ego maintenance brake
 Outgroup definition brake
 Organisational brake