Brittany Wallace, Ireland and Religion

Ireland has been a strong topic of international politics since the 1970s. Northern Ireland arguably operates in a “not-war-not peace” state. It has been over ten years since the peace process of Ireland was instituted, yet the tensions regarding ethnic identification remains. Religious affiliation is the single most significant social characteristic when determining one’s place in Irish society; taking precedence over gender and social class. Despite Ireland’s best peace efforts, they are and will be partitioned for the foreseeable future. Since the 1970s ethnically based parties have captured more than 80% of the votes in all Northern Ireland elections, For the people if Ireland, national party and religion are far more important determinants of party allegiance. While majority of Irish people would prefer to operate under peaceful conditions over conflict, the greater society cannot seem to move past their loathing of the country’s past tragedies. Its difficult to comprehend a society where religious affliatin is so monumntally important. I've always considered our society very accepting of one's reliious or lack of religious affiliation. Obviously Irleand is only one of many countries taht lack relgious aceptance but in 2010 this relgious bias is still going strong. I wonder if or when acceptance will ever set in.