Just a Question Re: Ire/NI

WindSock

Can anyone clarify for me what the differences are between Loyalist and Unionist & Republican and Nationalist please? Just a general answer in your own terms, no wiki links thanks.

José Alaninho

Well....

IMO the difference is thus: "Nationalist" refers to the broad spectrum of people in the Six Counties who (generally speaking) wish to see an eventually united Ireland, in whatever form it might take. "Republican" is a subset of these people, who are considered more radical, who generally demand that the said United Ireland be a Socialist Republic.

"Unionist" refers to the broad spectrum of people who wish for the Six Counties to remain a part of the United Kingdom, whereas, once again, "loyalist" refers to the more extreme elements of these people.

So basically, Republicans are radical Nationalists, and Loyalists are extremist Unionists.

Make sense?

WindSock

Yes, thats a good explanation for me, thanks .


Anyone else have anything to say?

Permabear

This post has been deleted.

Fratton Fred

Ssshhh, don't wake them.

WindSock

donegalfella wrote: »

This post has been deleted.

I know, I'm confused too. I changed the title around an hour ago though to include NI )

Executive Steve

Fratton Fred wrote: »

Ssshhh, don't wake them.

At times like this i wish it were possible to "thank" posts more than once!

futurehope

Protestant - Reformed Christian. Can't be an atheist, or an agnostic. Must subscribe to all the basics of Reformed Christianity, as he sees them. Can live anywhere in the world and support or oppose any constitutional position as regards Northern Ireland and The UK as a whole. Can also support or oppose any methods of upholding his constitutional position, providing they do not conflict with his religious values.

Unionist - supports the unity of The UK in it's entirety. Can hold any other political position, left, right, or centre. Can also support or oppose any methods of upholding his constitutional position including force. Can hold any religious views. Can live anywhere, but likely to be found in UK.

Loyalist - most difficult to define. In fact a consensus doesn't exist. Most likely definition would be any Ulster citizen prepared to use militant action (and even violence) to resist an independent united Ireland. Might even favour Ulster independence of one form or another. Can oppose monarchy. Can be any religion (but not generally RC). Can be atheist or agnostic. Can hold any political views, left, right, or centre. Can live anywhere, but generally found in Ulster. Plenty found in Scotland, some in England and Wales and a few elsewhere. Can be associated with Loyal Orders and Loyalist bands, but not necessarily so.

'Loyalism' seems very close to an ethnicity to me, as opposed to Protestantism (religion) and Unionism (political stance).

Joey the lips

Ulster loyalism is a militant unionist ideology held mostly by Protestants in Northern Ireland. Some individuals claim that Ulster loyalists are working-class unionists willing to use violence in order to achieve their aims. ...
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Loyalist_(Northern_Ireland)

Unionism in Ireland is an ideology that favours the maintenance or strengthening of the political and cultural ties between Ireland (often, specifically, Northern Ireland) and Great Britain.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unionist_(Northern_Ireland)

Irish republicanism (Poblachtánachas) is an ideology based on the belief that all of Ireland should be an independent republic


Irish nationalism (Náisiúnachas Éireannach) comprises political and social movements and sentiment inspired by a love for Irish culture ...
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nationalist_(Northern_Ireland)


Essentially A nationalist republician is Irish and a loyalist unionist is English

What more can be said

Permabear

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gurramok

Another difference is that one group(Unionist/Loyalist) have a historical longing to England & Scotland while the other(Nationalist/Republican) does not have that just like the vast majority of people in ROI.

oscarBravo

I'm making a tactical decision to close this while it's still relatively civil - the OP's question seems to have been answered.