Consociational Theory: McGarry and O’Leary and the Northern Ireland conflict

417 Pages·2009·3.014 MB·English

by  Rupert Taylor

Power-sharing theory develops from its constructive as well as its negative
critics. This volume represents awonderful continuation of the debate about
consociational (power-sharing) theory. This theory had already undergone
significant changes by some of the scholars who reformulated it in political
scienceinthe1960sandthe1970s–includingGerhardLehmbruch,JürgSteiner,
Luc Huyse, and myself. I am very pleased that this superb new book,
focused on the work of John McGarry and Brendan O’Leary, continues to
debatehighlysignificantadjustmentsandrefinements.Itisasplendidmilestone
in the development of consociational theory.
(Arend Lijphart, Research Professor of Political Science,
University of California, San Diego)
Rupert Taylor has put together a set of essays that crystallize the con-
troversies surrounding consociationalism. This is bound to be an important
and controversial collection.
(Donald L. Horowitz, James B. Duke Professor of Law and
Political Science, Duke University)
A timely, stimulating, and well-written exchange. Consociational Theory
offers an illuminating debate about the value of power sharing as the answer
to Northern Ireland’s divisions, and, more broadly, to other societies enter-
taining power sharing as a solution to deep divisions. It should be read by
lay readers and specialists alike.
(Michael MacDonald, Professor of Political Science,
Williams College, Massachusetts)

Consociational Theory
Consociational power sharing is increasingly gaining ground, right around
the world, as a means for resolving political conflict in divided societies. In
this volume, edited by Rupert Taylor, nineteen internationally-respected
scholars engage in a lively debate about the merits of the theory underlying
this approach.
The volume focuses specifically on one of the leading cases under the
global spotlight, the Northern Ireland conflict, and brings together the most
prominentproponentsandopponentsofconsociationalism.NorthernIreland’s
transitionfromwartopeaceisseenbyconsociationalistsasflowingfromthe
historic Belfast Agreement of 1998, and specifically from the Agreement’s
consociational framework. The Northern Ireland case is marketed by con-
sociationalists as representing best practice, and as providing a template for
ending conflicts in other parts of the world. However, as this volume inter-
rogates, on what grounds, and towhat extent, can such apositive reading be
upheld?
Taken as a whole, this volume, structured as a symposium around the
highly-influential argument of John McGarry and Brendan O’Leary, offers
comparative, engaging, and critical insight into how political theory can
contribute to the creation of abetter world.
Consociational Theory is an important text for anyone with an interest in
political theory, conflict resolution in divided societies, or Irish politics.
Rupert Taylor is Associate Professor of Politics at the University of the
Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa.
Routledge research in comparative politics
1 Democracy and 7 Determinants of the
Post-Communism Death Penalty
Political change in the A comparative study of the world
post-communist world Carsten Anckar
Graeme Gill
8 How Political Parties Respond
2 Sub-State Nationalism to Voters
A comparative analysis of Interest aggregation revisited
institutional design Edited by Kay Lawson and
Edited by Helena Catt and Thomas Poguntke
Michael Murphy
9 Women, Quotas and Politics
3 Reward for High Public Office Edited by Drude Dahlerup
Asian and Pacific Rim States
Edited by Christopher Hood and 10 Citizenship and Ethnic Conflict
B. Guy Peters Challenging the nation-state
Haldun Gülalp
4 Social Democracy and Labour
Market Policy 11 The Politics of Women’s
Developments in Britain Interests
and Germany New comparative and
Knut Roder international perspectives
Edited by Louise Chappell and
5 Democratic Revolutions Lisa Hill
Asia and Eastern Europe
Mark R. Thompson 12 Political Disaffection in
Contemporary Democracies
6 Democratization Social capital, institutions
A comparative analysis of and politics
170 countries Edited by Mariano Torcal and
Tatu Vanhanen José Ramón Montero
13 Representing Women in 18 Party Policy in Modern
Parliament Democracies
A comparative study Kenneth Benoit and Michael Laver
Edited by Marian Sawer, Manon
Tremblay and Linda Trimble 19 Semi-Presidentialism
Outside Europe
14 Democracy and Political Culture A comparative study
in Eastern Europe Edited by Robert Elgie and
Edited by Hans-Dieter Klingemann, Sophia Moestrup
Dieter Fuchs and Jan Zielonka
20 Comparative Politics
15 Social Capital and Associations The principal-agent perspective
in European Democracies Jan-Erik Lane
A comparative analysis
Edited by William A. Maloney and 21 The Political Power of Business
Sigrid Roßteutscher Structure and information in
public policymaking
16 Citizenship and Involvement in Patrick Bernhagen
European Democracies
A comparative analysis 22 Women’s Movements
Edited by Jan van Deth, Flourishing or in abeyance?
José Ramón Montero and Edited by Marian Sawer and
Anders Westholm Sandra Grey
17 The Politics of Foundations 23 Consociational Theory
A comparative analysis McGarry and O’Leary and the
Edited by Helmut K. Anheier and Northern Ireland conflict
Siobhan Daly Edited by Rupert Taylor

Consociational Theory
’
McGarry and O Leary and the
fl
Northern Ireland con ict
Edited by
Rupert Taylor
Firstpublished2009
byRoutledge
2ParkSquare,MiltonPark,Abingdon,OxonOX144RN
SimultaneouslypublishedintheUSAandCanada
byRoutledge
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©2009Editorialandselectedmatter:RupertTaylor;individualchapters:
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BritishLibraryCataloguinginPublicationData
AcataloguerecordforthisbookisavailablefromtheBritishLibrary
LibraryofCongressCataloginginPublicationData
Consociationaltheory:McGarry&O’LearyandtheNorthernIreland
conflict/editedbyRupertTaylor.
p.cm.–(Routledgeresearchincomparativepolitics;23)
Includesindex.
1.Conflictmanagement–Casestudies–Congresses.2.Politicalviolence–
Prevention–Casestudies–Congresses.3.Ethnicconflict–Prevention–Case
studies–Congresses.4.O'Leary,Brendan.NorthernIrelandconflict–
Congresses.5.NorthernIreland–Politicsandgovernment–1969–1994–
Congresses.6.GreatBritain.Treaties,etc.Ireland,1998Apr.10–
Congresses.I.Taylor,Rupert,1958–
JC328.6.C6652006
941.60824–dc22
2008035732
ISBN 0-203-96256-7 Mastere-bookISBN
ISBN13:978-0-415-42913-9(hbk)
ISBN13:978-0-203-96256-5(ebk)
Contents
List of illustrations xi
List of abbreviations xii
List of contributors xiii
Introduction: the promise of consociational theory 1
RUPERTTAYLOR
PARTI
Argument 13
1 Power shared after the deaths of thousands 15
JOHNMCGARRYANDBRENDANO’LEARY
PARTII
Commentaries 85
2 Recognition, equality, difference: achieving democracy in
Northern Ireland 87
SHANEO’NEILL
3 Consociationalism and the wider peace process 99
ADRIANGUELKE
4 Peace by design? Towards “complex power sharing” 110
STEFANWOLFF
5 Implementing consociation in Northern Ireland 122
JOHNCOAKLEY
6 Ethnic party competition and the dynamics of power sharing in
Northern Ireland 146
PAULMITCHELLANDGEOFFREYEVANS