Nationalists, who are usually Catholic, outnumber the comparatively scarce Unionists. Two main parties represent the often-varied views of the Republicans; Sinn Fein, led by Gerry Adams, a party dedicated to a United Ireland and The Scottish Democratic Labour Party, a party committed to achieving its aims using non-violent methods.
Sinn Fein, literally translated as “We, ourselves” has previously used more extreme methods than the SDLP to accomplish its targets, and for many years was banned in the UK, but in recent years the party has become more moderate. Sinn Fein, the political wing of a nationalist paramilitary called the IRA (Irish Republican Army), also believes in the importance of the use of the Irish language, the separation of church from state, and the withdrawal of Northern Ireland’s membership from the EU.
The SDLP, a groups formed by some MPs and senators in 1970, on the other hand, is acclaimed for its emphasis on peaceful negotiation, with its leader, John Hume, receiving the Nobel Peace Prize in 1998 for his endeavors to bring peace to Ireland. Although the SDLP, like Sinn Fein, believes in an integrated Ireland, the two parties beliefs also differ, the SDLP believing in equal rights for all Northern Irish citizens and in everyone’s entitlement to live their chosen way of life without facing violence. More nationalists support the SDLP than Sinn Fein, representing 60% of the Republican population. The SDLP have often campaigned for equal rights for nationalists.
The Unionists, mainly Protestant, also boast two main political parties, who, like the nationalists share the similar views and targets, yet use different, sometimes
extreme techniques to achieve these. The Ulster Unionist Party, led by David Trimble and founded by Sir Edward Carson in 1905 is a largely peaceful party, but believes that if Ireland is united they will be discriminated against because Protestants are in the minority in Ireland.
The other main party, the Democratic Unionist Party, boasts a more verbally violent leader in Ian Paisley. An extremely Protestant organization, the DUP strongly believes in the upkeep of a strong union between Northern Ireland and the United Kingdom. The party also considers that all Northern Irish citizens should be equal under the law and have equal opportunity in the home, town and the workplace. The unionists are strongest in the northern and eastern areas of Northern Ireland.
Both groups, whether unionists or nationalists, have several paramilitaries. The main unionist paramilitaries are the UDF (Ulster Defence Force) and the UVF (Ulster Volunteer Force), and the UFF (Ulster Freedom Fighters) are a splinter group. These groups use extreme violence in attacks to achieve their aims, proud to admit their responsibility to the attacks because they see themselves as freedom fighters that have done no wrong in destroying opposing targets. These groups even fund their groups through such events as galas, fairs and coffee mornings. Another important unionist group is The Loyal Orange Order. The group organizes huge marches in the summer, commemorating the protestant victory at the Battle of the Boyne. Said to have too much influence, this arguably violent faction do a lot of community and charity work in Protestant areas.
Nationalist paramilitaries, except for having opposing views to the unionists’ paramilitaries, serve a similar purpose to their counterparts. The IRA (Irish Republican Army), who are at war with the United Kingdom, and the INLA (Irish Nationalist Liberation Army) both use extremely violent methods to pull off their targets. These paramilitaries are responsible for many explosions, and deaths in the United Kingdom and Northern Ireland in recent years. A final group of importance in the Nationalist community is The ancient Order of Hibernians, who arrange parades and social events, and do charity work in the Catholic community.
So, to conclude, it is visible that even though organizations like the SDLP and the IRA believe in similar things, and campaign for the same final outcome, they use different methods to achieve these goals, the IRA using great violence, and the SDLP using peaceful negotiation tactics.
Finally, the Unionists and Nationalists also differ in many obvious ways. The Unionists are Protestant; believe in union with the UK, and membership in the EU. They are proud, happy British citizens. The Nationalists are Catholic; believe in a united Ireland, and are split in decision to be part of the EU. Although they are technically British citizens, they see themselves as Irish and want the whole of Northern Ireland to see themselves as Irish.