The violent unrest that has caused so much damage in the UK has not in fact happened across the UK. It has almost been exclusively confined to England.

True, violent riots also took place in Belfast, Northern Ireland, but, interestingly enough, even there they were largely perpetrated by British loyalists, along with a few far-right extremists from Dublin.

The counter-protestors were seemingly mostly drawn from Northern Ireland’s Catholic community.

At least up until now, Scotland and Wales have remained peaceful. When considering why this is the case, we might look at how the English are positioned within the United Kingdom.

After all the mess has been cleared from the streets, it would be advisable for the government and society as a whole, to have a debate about what “England” and “Englishness” stand for in a Union profoundly divided by rising nationalism and in a world where Britannia no longer rules the waves.

  • Flax@feddit.uk
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    4 months ago

    My theory is that a lot of it in Northern Ireland is actually just paramilitaries trying to get what they want. This happened during brexit as well over the sea border. The areas where the rioting happened in Belfast also had big signs saying “THIS AREA NEEDS MORE SOCIAL HOUSING” and suddenly the solution for the riots that the Deputy First Minister comes up with is an agreement for more social housing. Also that random white-owned estate agents being attacked smells fishy to me.

    • Lad@reddthat.com
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      4 months ago

      Paramilitaries are always involved in any trouble & unrest that goes on here. They’re a blight on our communities.

      • Flax@feddit.uk
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        4 months ago

        Aye. Although I think they mainly operate in areas where the policing is less effective. Although it’s probably a chicken and egg scenario - Is the bad policing because the paramilitaries are there? Or are the paramilitaries there because of the bad policing