No Solution: The Labour Government and the Northern Ireland Conflict, 1974-79

This monograph reconstructs the 1974-79 Labour government's policies in Northern Ireland, covering the collapse of power-sharing, secret dialogue with the Provisional IRA, and efforts to mitigate conflict through industrial investment. It sheds light on the challenges faced by British ministers, civil servants, soldiers, and policemen and the reasons why the conflict lasted so long.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 288 pages
Publication date: 21 November 2019
Publisher: Manchester University Press

This monograph delves into the intricate tapestry of the 1974-79 Labour government's policies in Northern Ireland, employing a vast array of archival correspondence and diaries to reconstruct the pivotal era. It encompasses the dramatic collapse of power-sharing in May 1974, the clandestine negotiations with the Provisional IRA during the 1975 ceasefire, the acquiescence of Labour ministers in perpetuating indefinite direct rule from Westminster, the concerted efforts to mitigate conflict through industrial investment, a significant shift in security policy prioritizing the police over the army, and the adaptation of republicans to the evolving threat landscape. Through this comprehensive reconstruction, the monograph sheds light on the formidable challenges faced by British ministers, civil servants, soldiers, and policemen, as well as the underlying factors that contributed to the prolonged conflict. As a vital resource for researchers and students of both British and Northern Irish politics, this monograph offers a profound understanding of the complex dynamics that shaped this critical period in history.

Weight: 440g
Dimension: 154 x 234 x 16 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781526121707