Republicans or Nationalists are generally Catholic and see themselves as Irish rather than British. However, not all Nationalists are united as they want slightly different things; many moderate Nationalists have preferred to remain part of the United Kingdom at different parts of Ireland’s history, some Democratic Nationalists have campaigned for equality for the nationalist community within Northern Ireland, while other, more extreme, Republicans simply want the creation of a united Ireland and separation from the United Kingdom. In contrast to the Republicans, the Unionists wants are consistent, as they all believe that the union with Northern Ireland is economically viable. Some think that if there was a united Ireland, the Protestants would be discriminated against. The Unionists are most strong in the north and east of Ireland, particularly Belfast.
There are many nationalist parties, of which the main ones are the Social and Democratic Labour Party (SDLP) and Sinn Fein. The SDLP are dedicated to achieving their goals through democratic and peaceful methods. Sinn Fein is not a political party, but is very closely associated with the Irish Republican Army (IRA). Republicans and their opponents view the IRA and the INLA very differently, as they are thought of as freedom fighters and terrorists respectively. This is because the IRA and INLA use violence to achieve their aims. Another important Republican organisation is the Ancient Order of Hibernians, which a Catholic society and community group that organises parades and does charity work.
There are also many Unionist or Loyalists parties, which are known as such because of their loyalty to Britain and are mainly Protestant. The Democratic Unionist Party is the main political party representing the views of the Unionists. It is the biggest single party in Northern Ireland, and is committed to peaceful protesting and political action. The main paramilitary groups are the Ulster Defence Association and the Ulster Volunteer Force, which has splinter groups such as Ulster Freedom Fighters. These paramilitary groups use violence to achieve their aims. Another important group is the Loyal Orange Order, a Protestant order, best known for its marches in the summer months, but also does charitable and community work. However, some critics say that it has too much influence in Northern Ireland.
Unionists and Nationalists want different things for different reasons. Unionists want Northern Ireland to remain a part of the United Kingdom, while Nationalists want power to make Ireland united and independent. Both groups use history as ammunition for their fights against each other and have subdivisions, which use different ways of fighting for their beliefs.
