Customer Reviews

Paisley: Religion and Politics in Northern Ireland

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I came at this work as an American trying to learn more about Ian Paisley's Free Presbyterian Church, and frankly, I began with fairly low expectations for a book written by a British sociologist. Nevertheless, I was quickly and pleasantly surprised to discover that Bruce knows his craft and that despite his academic credentials, he carefully delineates Paisley's religious beliefs and treats them with respect.

As Bruce early notes, Ian Paisley is unique, the only person in modern Europe to have founded both a church and a political party, both of which have demonstrated remarkable influence in Ulster and beyond. Bruce first establishes the historical background that made the emergence of Paisley possible, presents a brief biography of his early years, and then treats the creation and beliefs of the Free Presbyterian Church of Ulster (FPCU).

Two chapters describe the rise of Paisley's Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) from its marginal beginnings to its current position as most popular Protestant party in Northern Ireland; and succeeding chapters discuss the maturing of the FPCU and its interaction with the DUP. Finally, Bruce discusses the (non)-connection between Paisley and Ulster violence and concludes that despite Paisley's fondness for Old Testament rhetoric, his political views are "entirely conventional" for a modern democratic state.

It is no criticism to note that this volume is written for British readers and that those who say, find the politics of Alabama perfectly comprehensible may discover Ulster affairs of state more alien than they had anticipated. For instance, prospective readers might wish to check the definition of the term "ginger group" before they begin.