Armed Struggle: The History of the IRA

Some reviewers have accused English of a pro-republican bias. I have to strongly disagree. The purpose of his book is to understand the IRA, what made them tick, how military strategy and political objectives were related. Necessarily, he quotes the views of republicans, but he does not do so uncritically or without context. He also makes it very clear in his conclusion that the IRA's armed struggle was, on balance, counterproductive. As he says, “[…] I myself am – in the end – not really persuaded by the IRA’s argument that their violence was necessary or beneficial. But nor am I satisfied with a depiction of the IRA which casually or myopically condemns them.” (384) Complex conflicts such as the Troubles are not a matter of black and white, good guys and bad guys. Some reviewers seem to have a problem with that concept. He also never allows facts and figures to sanitise the brutal acts committed. Again and again, he describes in harrowing detail the human cost of an IRA bombing or murder, the devastating impact on the families. Interestingly, he does not dwell on the pain inflicted by loyalist murders. If anything, he is therefore likely to create revulsion against the IRA rather than against its enemies! He even condemns the IRA on occasion: "For in terms of the most extreme instance of oppression - the IRA were easily the most active agent in the late-twentieth-century conflict in Ireland." (380) So much for an allegedly pro-IRA bias. He also points out that IRA violence, including punishment beatings / kneecappings, was sometimes motivated by selfishness rather than lofty ideals. The reader will not learn much about the enemies of the IRA, or indeed rival organisations such as INLA, but this is not surprising, as this book is about the IRA. English's analysis of the IRA is brilliant (and well written) in terms of ideology, policy, aims, and strategy, but rather thin on organisational, tactical and technical detail. He clearly understands this organisation and its protagonists, but this definitely does not mean that he justifies the violence. Just having finished the book, my bottom line is the depressing futility of the armed struggle.

I have followed the events in Northern Ireland with great interest since the 1970's. At the time it seemed like the atrocities would never end and that loyalist and republican groups seemed determined to outdo each other in terms of killing people they perceived as their enemies. I was very pleased that after so many years that the situation there has greatly improved. Some people have speculated that a truth and reconciliation council such as that in South Africa should be established where people could give their accounts of the conflict knowing that they would not be subject to legal proceedings afterwards. I don't think such a thing would happen with regard to the events that have taken place in Northern Ireland since the 1960's as the "sides" in the conflict, the British government and the unionist and republican paramilitary groups have far too much to hide. If they revealed everything they did it would prove far too shocking and embarrassing. It would show just how many times they lied and deceived the people of Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK. The wounds are still far too fresh for that to happen in our lifetimes.The "Armed Struggle" shows how the IRA came into being and details its history from the Easter Rising in 1916, how internal disagreements led to the formation of the Provisionals and how they carried out their operations from 1969 to the Good Friday Agreement in 1998 following many years of bloodshead, civil strife, inter-communal violence, several unsuccessful cease fires and periods of relative calm. The book is divided into four parts - History 1916-1963, Protest and Rebellion 1963-1976, Prisons and Politics 1976-1988 and peace? 1988-2002 and it attempts, usually successful to be a balanced account of the troubles. It is a clear, insightful and highly readable account of a fascinating and tragic period of history and anyone who would like to learn more about this conflict and the role of the IRA in the troubles in Northen Ireland could do no better than to read this excellent book by Richard English.

I'm not entirely sure what to make of this book.He does show a very clear sympathy for the IRA's position until the last part where there is some balanced and decent analysis. The republican argument (the north was an artificial creation and therefore it is the will of the irish people, as a whole, which counts) is not obviously wrong but a proper understanding shows this not to be a tenable position. As the author notes - why is the irish 'nation' automatically fixed as the island of ireland? Ireland may have been invaded 1000 years ago (and 600 years later) but why does this matter now? 'England for the English, Scotland for the Scottish'...Britain for the british? Ultimately the IRA's argument that the Irish nation must determinate its own fate is circular - for the whole debate is exactly who is 'Irish'.The problem with this work is that it is needlessly biased. The author does at many point seem to make moral equivalences between the IRA and their victims - right from the outset he compares the death of an IRA man from a hunger strike to the murder of one of his victims - both 'tragedies'? How can one justify such needless (and wrong) opinions? Those who died on the hunger strike were terrorists who had killed innocent civilians - how can they demand the right to wear their uniforms?A good work but flawed by needless bias at times.

My brother will love this book for Christmas. Thank you.

Armed Struggle: The History of the IRA is written as an objective overview of one of the most controversial armed groups in recent Irish/UK history, from inception through to contemporary splinter groups. Richard English achieves this through a clear and engaging narrative which is detailed and well researched, but not at the cost of pace or intrigue in the story itself.If you are looking for a well balanced, well written account of the IRA you should most definitely read this book.