A Difficult Difference: Race, Religion and the New Northern Ireland

by Peter Geoghegan

This is the story of how multicultural agendas have emerged in Northern Ireland, and how sectarianism continues to frustrate new visions for a post-conflict society. Drawing on everything from analysis of anti-racist murals and posters to interviews with politicians, policy makers and minority ethnic representatives, this book shows how, and where, Northern Ireland is moving forward, and where patterns of behaviour and social organisation rooted in tribal division are holding it back. While politicians across the globe are grappling with issues of race and religion, understanding Northern Ireland in all its complexity has never been more important. This highly readable account paints a vivid picture of where Northern Irish society is now, and what needs to change if a socially cohesive future for all its peoples is ever to be realised.

192 pages, Paperback

First published May 28, 2010

About the author

Peter Geoghegan is an Irish writer, broadcaster and investigations editor at the award-winning news website openDemocracy. He led openDemocracy's investigations into dark money in British politics that were nominated for a 2019 British Journalism award and the Paul Foot award. His journalism has appeared in the New York Times, the Guardian, the London Review of Books and many other publications. His book, The People's Referendum: Why Scotland Will Never Be the Same Again, was nominated for the Saltire First Book Award.