The character of unionism

This paper seeks to offer a critical examination of the existing literature on unionism in Northern Ireland. It contends that recent interpretations have typically failed to grasp fully the essential diversity of the unionist mind. In particular, commentators have proved content to overlook those sécular and liberal impulses that inform the political imagination of modern unionism. The paper concludes with a brief discussion concerning how social scientists might arrive at a more faithful understanding of the character of unionism.