THE IRISH FACTOR IN THE US POLITICS DURING 1968 – 1998

DOI 10.17721/2521-1706.2024.18.1

Oleksandr Komarenko,

Ph. D. (History), Associate Professor,

ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0004-2066-6624,

Oleh Prelovskyi,

Master’s student, Educational program «American and European studies»,

ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0008-1638-6821,

Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv, Kyiv, Ukraine

Abstract. The article is meant to discuss the Irish diaspora in the United States of America, and its influence on US politics during the period from 1968 to 1998. The study aims to analyse the diaspora influence on the US foreign policy regarding the Northern Irish issue, the factors of formation and changes in the lives of immigrants, and their perspective towards the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland. The chronological period is determined by the duration of the Troubles, that is the Northern Ireland ethnic conflict.

The methodology of the article is based on the combination of socio-political history and the history of international relations which would outcome in a comprehensive image of the interaction and interdependence between society and politics with an example of the Irish factor in the US politics. Memoralisational analysis, methods of historical genetics and comparativity were also used during the study

The scientific novelty of the proposed research is a profound attempt to refute the impartiality of the US policy in the Northern Irish issue as well as to prove the existing obstacles to the «special relations» between London and Washington. In addition, the development of the Irish in the United States and in the Republic of Ireland has been examined through comparative studies.

The authors’ conclusions are meant to point to the existing generational trauma among immigrants from the British Isles which directly affects their political interests in the United States, such as in the issue of lobbying for anti-British (that is, anti-imperial for the Irish) interests. At the same time, the Irish factor in the United States of America was one of those that significantly influenced Washington’s involvement in Troubles negotiations. After all, since the Irish diaspora in the United States outnumbers even the population of the Republic of Ireland itself, it becomes clear why a large number of Irish Americans are more attached to their homeland than to the country of their residence, and regardless of whether they are political figures or ordinary citizens.

Key words. USA, UK, Republic of Ireland, Irish diaspora, civil society, Northern Ireland, Troubles.
 
Submitted: 29.05.2024

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