Narrativ, Ansvar och legitimitet i Nordirlandkonflikten. : En narrativ analys av Bernadette Devlin McAliskeys konstruktioner av konflikten.

Sammanfattning

This study examines how Bernadette Devlin McAliskey constructs responsibility, legitimacy and resistance in her narratives surrounding the Northern Ireland conflict. Furthermore, the study examines if her narratives are continuous or variable over time. The material the study draws upon is Bernadette McAliskey´s book “The price of my soul” (1969) along with an interview conducted with Bernadette. The study is conducted using a narrative analysis method, formulated by Chaterine Kohler Riessman (1993/2008). The theoretical framework applied on the study is Margaret Somers (1994) narrative constitution of identity. Through this theoretical lense, the study examines how responsibility, legitimacy and identity is constructed trough experiences along with historical narratives. The research primarily found that Bernadette consistently constructs the British unionist state as predominantly responsible for the discrimination and oppression that was visited upon the Catholic population in Northern Ireland. The results furthermore exhibit how Bernadette constructs resistance and political mobilisations as legitimate, due to a long standing struggle for equality. Additionally, the study examines how public narratives in the form of narrative stories passed down through generations effectively impacts her construction of her narrative. Moreover, it examines how these narratives impact her understanding of the conflict, and what actors are responsible for its escalation. The findings also indicate that Bernadettes core narratives about responsibility, legitimacy and resistance are mostly continuous. However, her understanding of the conflict, and the layers of responsibility within it has become more nuanced and deeper over time. In her earlier accounts she would depict the police force as mostly responsible for the violence that the Catholic population experienced. However, when she reflects on these situations today,she mainly constructs the British unionist government as responsible.The findings of this study can contribute to the research field by showcasing how individual narratives can construct how legitimacy, responsibility and resistance is understood within the conflict.