Political Leadership and the Northern Ireland Peace Process

This book argues that much of the literature on political leadership has made little meaningful connection with the issues of peace, conflict and divided societies. In providing a critical interpretation of political leadership during the Northern Ireland peace process, Cathy Gormley-Heenan shows how the ‘leadership lens’ offers insights not offered by conventional analyses of peacemaking processes. Using interviews with political elites in Northern Ireland, the book discusses the confusions, contradictions and chameleonic nature of leadership and its role, capacity and effect.

CATHY GORMLEY-HEENAN is a Lecturer in the School of Policy Studies, University of Ulster, UK. She is a member of the University’s Social and Policy Research Institute, an associate researcher with the Transitional Justice Institute and an associate staff member of INCORE (International Conflict Research) where she held the 2004-3005 Tip O’Neill Fellowship.

Acknowledgements * Abbreviations * Introduction * Conceptualizing Political Leadership in Peace Processes * Explaining Political Leadership in Northern Ireland * The Role of Political Leadership * The Capacity of Political Leadership * The Effect of Political Leaders on Other Political Leaders * The Limitations of Role, Capacity and Effect * Conclusion: Towards a New Understanding of Political Leadership * Notes * Bibliography * Index