Belfast

Consequences Of Segregation

Segregation in General

The continued division between groups in Belfast continues to lead to unfortunate events. Within Belfast, there is evidence of segregated communities separated by some form of interface. These physical barriers cause an increase in the practice of voluntary segregation, and as a result violence in the city is consistently unceasing. As discussed, these interfaces of separation are commonly walls (peace-walls) but also can simply be a lamp post or stop sign. In such cases, the imaginary wall confines residents of certain groups to these street limits. There everyday lifestyle practices are maintained within these margins. To understand the impact of the physical barriers in Belfast, a look into a study conducted by Brown (2002) showed that citizens in the age range between 18 to 25 years, 68% had never had a meaningful conversation with anyone from the other community [across the ‘peace’ walls]. This survey proves that the barriers between these two communities not only furthers segregation among adults, but these attitudes become 'normal' to younger generations, leaving little hope of ending segregation in the near future. There are many barriers throughout the city, and below is an example of the most dominant interface in Belfast.

Example: The Shankill Road and Falls Road is separated by what is known as the "Peace-Wall". North of the Peace Wall (Shankill Area) is a Protestant dominated area, while south of the Peace-Wall is dominantly Catholic. See image below.

The image above (taken from Google Earth) depicts the area of Shankill Road and Falls Road. The Peace-Wall in the center of the image is a clear illustration of a physical barrier separating two groups, in this case Catholics from Protestants. Note: The Catholic and Protestant areas extend beyond the boarders drawn on the image.

In short, there are many examples of segregated communities in Belfast, from religious segregation to political segregation to various forms of social segregation (including occupational and educational segregation), and because of this, Belfast has become an increasingly segregated city.

Religious Segregation

First, religious segregation, the most dominate example of segregated communities in Belfast has been the foremost form of segregation leading to ongoing violence and increased separation. A study by Shirlow and Murtagh (2006) showed that as Catholics become more able to move into middle class residential neighbourhoods, Protestants tend to move out into other middle class areas where there is evidence of greater numbers of those belonging to the same faith.

There is clear evidence that religious segregation takes place in Belfast, and according to Shirlow and Murtagh (2006), the majority of residents living in Belfast tend to reside in an area where at least 81% of the population is of the same faith. The table below illustrates the percentage of the population which belong to either the Catholic faith or the Protestant faith in specific neighbourhoods.

Percent of Population	% of Catholic in region	% of Protestant in region
0-20	4.7	3.4
21-40	3.6	7.3
41-60	10.7	7.0
61-80	13.8	9.3
81-90	9.3	28.4
91-100	58.0	44.6

Source: Peter Shirlow and Brendan Murtagh (2006). Belfast: Segregation, Violence and the City. Ann Arbour, Michigan: Pluto Press.

From the table above, it is clear that over two-thirds of Catholics and Protestants live in an area where 81% of the total population is of the same faith. This also further stresses, that members of the same faith tend to live (or move to) in an area that is dominated by the same religion.

Moreover, religious segregation has undoubtedly been the cause of the violence in the city. It is clearly evident in Belfast that segregation and violence continues to have a mutual impact on each other. It is noted that "segregated ethnic environments foster ongoing violence, which in turn, contributes to the consolidation of these environments and further sustains violence" (Doherty and Poole, 1997, 533). Within Belfast, it is known to the residents of segregated communities to continue there everyday practices within their confines, however, this is not always followed, thus violence commences. As in the Peace Wall example, which separates the Catholics from Protestants, it is a barrier that is rarely crossed by the other religion. On one hand, it is out of fear of what would happen if someone from another religion is caught, and on the other hand, there is no need to cross the barrier since they can do everything they need within their confines, however most times, occupants are willing to commute the extra distance to merely avoid the 'other side'. Below, the table shows a survey completed by Shirlow and Murtagh (2006) and the results. The question for the survey was "How safe do you feel when walking through an area dominated by the opposite religion during the day?"

Response	Male	Female
Safe	9%	3.7%
Quite Safe	6.3%	6.3%
Unsafe	23.5%	15.7%
Scared	12.5%	22.5%
Would Not Go	48.7%	51.8%

From the survey above, it is clear that out of those surveyed, the majority would not go into an area dominated by the opposite religion. This recent survey proves that the ongoing segregation is in large due to the fact that residents safety is most important, thus preventing any form of integration due to fear of the other faith. "Separate Catholic and Protestant housing areas have been a feature of the city for at least five generations. Relatively high levels of ethnic residential segregation in contemporary Belfast reflect the existence of an extremely stable system" (Doherty and Poole, 1997, 532). With that said, it is clear that separation of the two most dominate religious groups in Belfast is ongoing and evidently segregated.

Source: Boston Globe (http://www.boston.com/globe/nation/packages/good_friday/gallery3/01.htm)

Political Segregation

Beyond religious segregation, the divide between political groups has also been at the forefront of the ongoing violence in Belfast. Between these segregated communities, "the ongoing violence that has been a feature of political discord in Nothern Ireland since the paramilitary ceasefires of 1994 has upheld the amintenance of boundaries between competing political perspectives and segregated spaces" (Shirlow and Murtagh, 2006, 81). In Belfast, the separation between the two main political parities, republican/nationalist and unionist/loyalists, is evident. In 2003, there was an outburst of rioting between two neighboring communities, each supporting separate political parties. Below is an example of two neighbourhoods separated by interface barriers due to differing political beliefs and the extent of segregation and violence that occurs.

Example: The area of Short Strand is a republican/nationalist community (the only one in East Belfast), while its neighbouring community of Ballymacarrett is a community home to unionist/loyalist party members. In between these two communities, a physical barrier, like the example of Shankill-Falls, a peace wall separates these two communities. Since 2001, there has been ongoing riots between these two areas such as school riots, street riots, and various bombings. Because of this violence there is little motivation or hope for peace and for fear of safety residents of each neighbourhood take action to avoid the other side.

In a study by Shirlow and Murtagh (2006), they found evidence that residents are willing to travel extra distance in an attempt to stay clear of the opposite political views of the neighbouring community. In this study they found that residents of Short Strand tend to choose facilities within the city center, including the outer rim of West Belfast. For example, the closest library for Short Strand residents is located 0.5km but it located in the Ballymacarrett community. The study showed that residents travel on average 2.17km to access other library facilities.

In short, political views is one of the most obvious factors for segregation in Belfast. It is common that political views are tied together with religious views in that people with the same political views tend to share the same religious faith. For example, residents of the Protestant faith are most common to have unionist/loyalists political views. On the whole, it is evident that political segregation leads to unwarranted violence, ultimately forcing separation between groups in Belfast. The image below is a section of the peace wall that separates Short Strand from Ballymacarrett communities.

Source: University of Sydney (http://www.arts.usyd.edu.au/centres/cpacs/images/content/contestedspaces/northern-ireland)

Social Segregation

Social segregation including segregation in the workplace, in schools and in the general attitudes of the population of Belfast is caused by differing political and religious views. Segregation by religious faith and political views in the workplace is common, and the education system in Belfast intensifies the religious segregation amongst the young students by fostering faith based schools. In general residents of Belfast tend to have different attitudes depending on their religious faith, which in turn affects their political views. Below, the table shows the differing attitudes of residents of Belfast belonging to separate religious faiths. The survey asked various questions and received differing responses depending on their faith.

Variable	Protestant (%)	Catholic (%)
I think of myself as Irish	31	90
I think of myself as British	91	29
I would not mind if my child married someone of a different religion	56	79
Integrated education should be an option for children in Northern Ireland	55	53
The housing authority should do more to promote integrated housing for Catholics and Protestants	73	82

Source: Peter Shirlow and Brendan Murtagh (2006). Belfast: Segregation, Violence and the City. Ann Arbour, Michigan: Pluto Press

It is evident from the survey completed that based on a residents faith, answers to the questions above will differ. Interestingly the majority of both Protestants and Catholics that were surveyed believe that there should be a push for integrated housing. This reflects previous statements that the segregation between the differing communities is largely in part due to individual safety rather than hatred of the other group. According to Brown (2002), six out of ten residents living in an area separated by a physical interface, said that they had been victims of verbal or physical abuse since the first ceasefire of 1994 in Belfast. This further illustrates that violence among different groups is steady, which largely affects these segregated communities.

Residents attitudes and believes play a large role in the outcome of segregation within the city, therefore, if residents themselves are willing to break down the physical barriers of the city, the government of Belfast will in turn play a large role in assuring peaceful encounters throughout the city. However, with ongoing segregation in social places in the city, it continues to be difficult to end the divisions in the city.

Occupational Segregation

Workplace segregation has been an important factor in the continuing separation of differing groups in Belfast. In 2002, what would become the start of the ongoing violence in Belfast, Danny McColgan, was killed by a group known as Ulster Freedom Fighters. Mr. McColgan was a Catholic postal worker, where he often worked in a Protestant area. This event marked the beginning of violent messages for Catholics to stay out of Protestant areas. This has "stimulated fear and discourage of the sharing of employment within segregated places" (Shirlow and Murtagh, 2006, 124). If jobs are limited to specific areas or employers, limitations in terms of job availability becomes a major concern. Beyond any social repercussions to the city social geography, discriminatory issues being to arise. Different acts have been implemented in hope of eliminating workplace discrimination based on religious faith or political beliefs (see Improvements to Segregation).

The segregation that takes place in the workplace in Belfast does not go unnoticed. The table below shows the percentage share by workplace segregation based on religion in the private sector in 2003. The results are from Equality Commission of Northern Ireland (ECNI).

% share Catholic/Protestant	Protestant share (%)	Catholic share (%)	Share of all employment
90 +	73.3	23.2	1.5
80-89.9	64.9	32.0	11.5
70-79.9	59.1	36.6	24.2
60-69.9	54.9	40.3	27.2
50-59.9	49.2	45.2	35.3

Source: Peter Shirlow and Brendan Murtagh (2006). Belfast: Segregation, Violence and the City. Ann Arbour, Michigan: Pluto Press

The results from the table above show that 64.9 percent of all employees worked in a company where at least 60 percent of all employees in the company were either Catholic or Protestant. From this it helps to define that the organization of residents occupation can be understood in terms of the residential segregation throughout the city.

Educational Segregation

Lastly, whether or not the end of segregation is possible, the education system in Belfast will play a large role in an attempt to minimize segregation. Currently in Belfast, the school systems are based on faith, Catholic schools, Protestant schools (public). Historically, there has been a 'back-and-forth' education system where different acts are passed to first eliminate segregated schools, however a new government will in turn reverse such law, again allowing for a segregated educational system. The last act in 1968 (Education Act) allowed for an increase in number of grants given to voluntary schools (most voluntary schools are for Catholic faith students). Therefore, the effect of this in 1980 was that over 95% of students in a voluntary school were Catholic, whereas in a controlled state school, there was less than 5% of students of the Catholic faith (Smith and Chambers, 1991). Since then, after the troubles, there has been no new law to overturn this division, thus allowing segregation amongst students in the education system in Belfast. The ongoing educational segregation is becoming a top priority for some residents who wish to see this come to end. There has been known violence that takes places around schools of different faiths and only fosters increased hatred or fear of other groups.

In the end, segregation has divided communities in Belfast for decades. Physical barriers such as peace walls have physically divided groups, who are forced to live their lives within the confines of the 'wall'. In other places, merely a stop sign or a lamp post can be the imaginary line that divides Protestants from Catholics, or republicans from unionists. Moreover, the violence that erupts between these divided communities is unnecessary. There are different reasons for segregation to take place within cities, some forced, some voluntary, in Belfast, segregation occurs out of fear. In the next section, different ways in which the Belfast government and community are trying to minimize the violence that occurs in the city by using measures that will ultimately reduce segregation in the city.

Source: The Independent, UK (http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/do-northern-irelands-murals-still-serve-a-purpose-970960.html)