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Barriers to Trust in a ‘Peace Process Generation’: Ambivalence in Young Catholics in Northern Ireland

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The Sociology of Compromise after Conflict

Part of the book series: Palgrave Studies in Compromise after Conflict ((PSCAC))

Abstract

This chapter focuses on young Catholics in Northern Ireland who are part of the first generation to grow up in a time of peace. Focusing on one example of a ‘compromise mediator’, that of trust, the chapter discusses the ambivalence of young Catholics with regard to developing trusting practices towards the traditional ‘other’. Within sociology, trust is understood as a process whereby individuals perceive favourable outcomes relating to events, situations or interactions with others, especially when they have little knowledge or certainty of a positive outcome. This chapter is based on qualitative group interviews with young Catholics conducted throughout Belfast and Derry. In a society where there can be many possible rational outcomes of interactions across community boundaries such as violence and sectarianism, safety is perceived as a priority. This chapter explores barriers for young Catholics in developing trusting relationships in the post-conflict environment.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Social Sciences, Education and Social Work, Queen’s University Belfast, Belfast, UK

    Aimee Smith

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  1. Aimee Smith
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Correspondence to Aimee Smith .

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  1. Queen’s University Belfast, Belfast, United Kingdom

    John D. Brewer

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Smith, A. (2018). Barriers to Trust in a ‘Peace Process Generation’: Ambivalence in Young Catholics in Northern Ireland. In: Brewer, J. (eds) The Sociology of Compromise after Conflict. Palgrave Studies in Compromise after Conflict. Palgrave Macmillan, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-78744-2_4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-78744-2_4

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  • Publisher Name: Palgrave Macmillan, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-319-78743-5

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-319-78744-2

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