Identities in Northern Ireland: A multidimensional approach

The conflict in Northern Ireland is often described in terms of a clash of identities, national and religious. This study aimed to determine the relat ive importance of these identities using a multidimensional approach to exa mine the identity structures of students (N = 216). Analyses revealed that national and religious identities were accorded low salience and centrality relative to other identities. The study also investigated relations betwee n a variety of identity dimensions derived from two identity traditions, so cial identity theory and identity theory. The differing patterns of relatio nships to emerge across groups and across identities suggest that the proce ss of identification in Northern Ireland is a complex one. The implications of these findings for the analysis of the Northern Ireland conflict are di scussed.