Political essay on the History and Philosophy of the DUP-Help

boomchicawawa

Hi, not sure if this is the correct forum, so happy to let Mods decide. I am doing a module on Politics, its not my first love and in truth I'm struggling with Political theory. We have been tasked with writing an essay and I have chosen 'The history and Philosophy of the DUP'....

I have read very widely on the subject and have decided to trace the origins of the party, their ideology, and how they came to a position of power sharing with Sinn Fein. At the moment this essay (which has no word count limit) is a whopping 7500 words as I am finding it impossible to ignore the major events that shaped NI politics over the last 40 years....I have had hints from the lecturer that I need to look at the other main parties, so I need to include the UUP, SDLP, Sinn Fein, NICRA ideologies and formations. The British Labour and Conservative parties as well as the Irish governments over the years....adding all this together and mentioning the AIA, GFA, NICRA, Direct rule, Power sharing exec, the IRA campaign etc etc etc, has made it more look like a History essay (my first love)while mentioning the political aspect as a side dish.....

So I'm looking for any hints or suggestions to turn this monster around and cull a snappy politics angle keeping in mind that the essay title does include the word 'History of'

Tks
Desperate in Dublin !:(

harry_w

Falling into the narrative trap, perhaps in the absence of a clear argument.

The lecturer may want to pull you out of narrative history to deal with ideological differences, political actions and responses.

Try to formulate headings around key issues and matters of contention. Form a view as to which of your sources you find convincing in their arguments, or otherwise.

Things like:

DUP Origins (I K Paisley)
Ideology or Theology?
Antagonisms, local and national
GFA and Overcoming the UUP
Sharing power with Sinn Fein
After Paisley

boomchicawawa

Thanks Harry, sitting here burning the midnight oil on the essay :rolleyes: sad or what ! I have actually covered most of the points you make, the tussle with the UUP being the most interesting line...at the moment I'm just trying to cut through all the coming and goings from 1998-2007 .... the frustration of all involved back then is matched by mine trying to simplify the two steps forward and three steps back sagas....

My main problem as a novice is that the title of the essay is 'History and philosophy of the party' thus I just can't ignore the chronological history of a time that was so dynamic. If I had been told to write an argument for or against or weigh up the ideology of the party, I would have done it very differently...

I appreciate your input !

junder

This may be of some use to you

http://touch.boards.ie/thread/2055531942/1/#post59716827

boomchicawawa

Thanks for that - will have a gander - have decided that my argument will be that - the DUP's decision to power share with SF was more about - the quest for power/to be the sole defender of the union even though they had to sup with 'the devil' .

Trimble alluded to this when he said about IP and the DUP 'they found themselves in power after 40 years on the sidelines and embraced it with both arms. Perhaps he always wanted to be Prime Minister of Northern Ireland at whatever cost’ .

So if I can show all the times over the 40 years when IP and the DUP castigated the UUPs leaders from O'Neill to Trimble for 'selling out', and then the obvious about turn which appalled even his most ardent supporters...

I have found examples of where the DUP preferred to be included rather than excluded, and am currently musing about showing the link to the fact the IP was a eurosceptic yet he was A euro EP for 25 years...have just found a suitable eurosceptic quote so trying to tie the assertion into the 'keep your friends close but you enemies even closer' theme...

ye gads.....its endless......Much appreciation for the link !:)

timthumbni

boomchicawawa wrote: »

Thanks for that - will have a gander - have decided that my argument will be that - the DUP's decision to power share with SF was more about - the quest for power/to be the sole defender of the union even though they had to sup with 'the devil' .

Trimble alluded to this when he said about IP and the DUP 'they found themselves in power after 40 years on the sidelines and embraced it with both arms. Perhaps he always wanted to be Prime Minister of Northern Ireland at whatever cost’ .

So if I can show all the times over the 40 years when IP and the DUP castigated the UUPs leaders from O'Neill to Trimble for 'selling out', and then the obvious about turn which appalled even his most ardent supporters...

I have found examples of where the DUP preferred to be included rather than excluded, and am currently musing about showing the link to the fact the IP was a eurosceptic yet he was A euro EP for 25 years...have just found a suitable eurosceptic quote so trying to tie the assertion into the 'keep your friends close but you enemies even closer' theme...

ye gads.....its endless......Much appreciation for the link !:)

Just because you are a euro Mep doesn't mean that you aren't euro sceptic. Look at Nigel farage of ukip who constantly mocks the eu and indeed often ridicules them in the euro parliament itself. (When he attends)Some quite funny speeches on you tube.

Wasn't it at the euro parliament where Paisley shouted the pope down as being the antichrist????

boomchicawawa

It was indeed, but after my extensive reading on himself, that incident was well in tune with his religious beliefs. Though, It annoyed the hell out of John Taylor (UUP)who was embarrassed and angry that NI got such bad international press over it. IP and Sinead O C. have more in common than either would have thought ...lol

TheHappyChappy

Have some stuff from History dept nuim if you need it

boomchicawawa

Thank you for the kind offer 'happy chappy' but I finally finished my tome, handed it in with baited breath and got a really positive feedback on it...lecturer told me he was 'impressed' !!!!:eek: with it ..... I was so sure he'd trash it as too much 'history' and not enough 'politics' but it passed muster thankfully.....! So I'm sorted....tks again for offer though...much appreciated.

K-9

Mod:

We generally don't allow essay/research type posts, but I think if we keep the thread to general pointers in a direction for the OP, the thread is beneficial to the N.I. forum

Personally, I'd say you'd have to mention Paisley and the Free Presbyterian Church, hard to not mention it in a history of the DUP.

Mentioning the Ulster Vanguard movement to give an idea of Unionism generally in the 70's would give context, Trimble moved from it to signing the Good Friday Agreement, in 20 years.

The likes of Ulster Resistance would also need a mention.

TheHappyChappy

The Ulster Resistance, definitively a dark corner which has yet to have a light shown on it in the passing of time.