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" A strategic analysis of loyalist paramilitaries in Northern Ireland "
Harris, Lyndsey Marie Naomi
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Latin Dissertation
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| Record Number
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1097592
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TLets516141
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| Main Entry
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Harris, Lyndsey Marie Naomi
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| Title & Author
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A strategic analysis of loyalist paramilitaries in Northern Ireland\ Harris, Lyndsey Marie Naomi
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| College
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University of Ulster
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| Date
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2008
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| student score
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2008
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| Degree
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Ph.D.
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| Abstract
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Substantial material is published annually on the so-called ‘Troubles’ ofNorthern Ireland. However, there remains a large gap for academicanalysis of Loyalist paramilitaries and more specifically how they haveused their military instrument. Indeed, a survey of the literature to-daterevealed that the subject is frequently addressed in a journalistic mannerand, consequently, this approach can be sensationalist. Approaches to theacademic understanding of Loyalist terrorist organisations habituallyoriginate from the sociological or psychological disciplines; whilst thesemethodologies have made significant steps forward in the addressing thelimited material available, there is a need for a re-interpretation ofLoyalism – one that employs a synthetic method. This thesis offers anevaluation of the two main Loyalist terrorist organisations, The UlsterDefence Association (UDA) and Ulster Volunteer Force (UVF), using astrategic theory framework. Drawing from empirical data, thisinvestigation examines the campaign of strategic terrorism employed bythe UDA and UVF. Significantly, this study identifies the value systems ofboth organisations and examines their interpretations of the politicalenvironment in Northern Ireland. It reveals how Loyalists have used bothmilitary and political signals to achieve their desired ends. An examinationof the UDA’s and UVF’s campaign of strategic terrorism exposes thesuccesses in being able to create disorientation and achieve to, a certainextent, its desired target response. Ultimately, this thesis argues, thecampaign of strategic terrorism fails in securing legitimacy from withinLoyalist communities.
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University of Ulster
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