Townshend, Charles.
Political Violence in Ireland.
New York: Oxford University Press, 1983.
In this book, Charles Townshend presents the idea that the existence of discord in Ireland is due to the relationship of government and resistance throughout the last century. He sets out to discover why political violence, which was commonplace in early 19th century England continued to be used as an accessory to, or even a substitute for, modern political dialogue in Ireland long after it ceased to be of any significance on the mainland. The author puts his material in a historical context in order to allow the evidence to speak for itself, rather than imposing explanatory structures.
Townshend states that there are two main concepts. One, government finds its primary definition in the absence of resistance; and two, resistance finds its meaning at the determination of the government. Therefore, government not only determines such events, but consequently, their reactions can create them. The difficulty for the British government in Ireland was the apparent need for the administration to use force on, rather than the consent of, the people. As a result the people, because of their fear of being overtaken, resorted to resisting the rule of law and order. Based on this theory, one would then ask whether the government's interpretation of such resistance as a public threat has always, or even often, been correct.
Political Violence in Ireland.
New York: Oxford University Press, 1983.
In this book, Charles Townshend presents the idea that the existence of discord in Ireland is due to the relationship of government and resistance throughout the last century. He sets out to discover why political violence, which was commonplace in early 19th century England continued to be used as an accessory to, or even a substitute for, modern political dialogue in Ireland long after it ceased to be of any significance on the mainland. The author puts his material in a historical context in order to allow the evidence to speak for itself, rather than imposing explanatory structures.
Townshend states that there are two main concepts. One, government finds its primary definition in the absence of resistance; and two, resistance finds its meaning at the determination of the government. Therefore, government not only determines such events, but consequently, their reactions can create them. The difficulty for the British government in Ireland was the apparent need for the administration to use force on, rather than the consent of, the people. As a result the people, because of their fear of being overtaken, resorted to resisting the rule of law and order. Based on this theory, one would then ask whether the government's interpretation of such resistance as a public threat has always, or even often, been correct.
