The Alliance Party of Northern Ireland: Beyond Unionism and Nationalism

Northern Ireland’s political system is dominated by an Irish Catholic nationalist versus British Protestant unionist fault-line, based on the long-running argument over whether the province should remain part of the United Kingdom or form part of a United Ireland. Yet the largest category of elector in Northern Ireland says they are neither a unionist nor a nationalist and the third largest party is now Alliance, which declares itself neutral on the constitutional future of the region. This book analyses the rise of Alliance. How has a party which eschews ethnic bloc politics, has no constitutional preference, and contains a mix of Catholics, Protestants, and those of no religion, come to prominence in a polity whose political institutions are framed upon an old divide? The volume undertakes an extensive membership survey analysing the role of a non-ethnic party in an ethnic system, assessing Alliance identities, politics, and futures. Can Alliance integrate Northern Irish society through shared education, housing and other public provision, or will continuing polarization thwart the Party’s project? Would Alliance take a position in the event of a constitutional referendum on Northern Ireland’s future—and what might that stand be? These and other key questions form part of a novel study of the party of Northern Ireland’s often overlooked centre ground and how it has survived—and even made progress—in an unfavourable political climate.