The ticking time bomb : H-Block, the connection between nationalism and violence

Abstract

This thesis argues that due to the intractable nature of the questions of national (imperial) identity and belonging, actors on both sides of "the Troubles" turned to violence to broadcast their voices. Lacking legitimate or effective outlets to articulate their perspectives, members of the PIRA turned to violence against themselves and others as a political tool. Studies of "The Troubles" in Northern Ireland and the H-Block Hunger Strike in 1981 are severely limited in scope and are primarily focused on providing a text-book style, all-encompassing history of the events. Most studies do not treat the H-Block Hunger Strike as a propaganda piece that embodies the connection between Irish republican nationalism and the consistent use of suffering as a method of rebellion against their perceived enemy, utilized by those who sought to fight against British imperialism. This thesis brings to light this connection while thoroughly examining the violent nature of the use of hunger strikes as a psychological weapon against the British government by the Provisional Irish Republican Army and their supporters. The central argument of this thesis focuses on the acts perpetrated by members of the Provisional IRA and the H-Block hunger strikers in 1981 and ties their use of the hunger strike to propaganda against the British government. This thesis is based on research conducted at the UK National Archives, the Irish Leftist Archive, and various writings by participants in the 1981 strike. The impact of this study will allow for further analysis of the utilization of hunger strikes and other violent methodologies as performative and psychological propaganda in historical and future nationalist endeavors similar to the 1981 H-Block Hunger Strike.