Two traditions in unionist political culture

Abstract This paper identifies two ideological traditions within Northern Irish unionism. The first, Ulster loyalism, is defined by its primary imagined community of Northern Protestants and its secondary conditional loyalty to the British state. It treats religion and politics as inextricably interrelated. This ideology is reproduced by potentially dominatory marches. Ulster British ideology, in contrast, is defined by its primary imagined community of Greater Britain and its secondary regional patriotism for Northern Ireland. It professes liberal political values. This ideology is reproduced by the extensive linkages between Northern Ireland and Great Britain which create typical life paths for Ulster British individuals. After analysing the structure of each ideology in terms of its imagined community, its Other and its fundamental structuring concepts, the paper discusses the possibilities of change of each ideology.