Segregation in Northern Ireland

Segregation in Northern Ireland is a long-running issue in the political and social history of Northern Ireland. The segregation involves Northern Ireland's two main communities – its nationalist/republican community (mainly nationalist and/or Catholic) and its unionist/loyalist community (who mainly self-identify as unionist and/or Protestant). It is often seen as both a cause and effect of "The Troubles".

A combination of political, religious and social differences plus the threat of intercommunal tensions and violence has led to widespread self-segregation of the two communities. Catholics and Protestants lead largely separate lives in a situation that some have dubbed "self-imposed apartheid". The academic John Whyte argued that "the two factors which do most to divide Protestants as a whole from Catholics as a whole are endogamy and separate education".

Read more about Segregation In Northern Ireland:  Historical Background, Education, Employment, Housing, Inter-marriage, Anti-discrimination Legislation

Famous quotes containing the words segregation, northern and/or ireland:

    Segregation now, segregation tomorrow and segregation forever!
    George C. Wallace (b. 1919)

    The northern sky rose high and black
    Over the proud unfruitful sea,
    East and west the ships came back
    Happily or unhappily....
    Philip Larkin (1922–1986)

    The tragedy of Northern Ireland is that it is now a society in which the dead console the living.
    Jack Holland (b. 1947)