Why Belfast’s troubled past made violence inevitable

About this episode

The episode discusses the recent riots in Belfast as a manifestation of long-standing community tensions and political neglect.

The riots which brought mass disorder to the streets of Belfast on Tuesday night weren’t just a reaction to a brutal stabbing in the city the night before. According to Professor Ian Acheson, they were also an expression of the rage and anger felt by a divided community ignored by politicians and policy makers. The violence has been rightly condemned after houses were set alight and police cars attacked. But Professor Acheson – an expert in counter extremism – argues it shouldn’t come as any surprise that tensions over migration and social deprivation have once again boiled over. Mhari Aurora spoke to the author and journalist.

People in this episode

Host: Mhari Aurora

Guest: Professor Ian Acheson

Topics covered

• Belfast
• violence
• community division
• political neglect
• migration
• social deprivation

Keywords

• Belfast riots
• community anger
• political neglect
• migration issues
• social deprivation

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Sky News

Places: Belfast

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