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An Army of Tribes: British Army Cohesion, Deviancy and Murder in Northern Ireland Paperback – 28 Feb. 2018

by Edward Burke (Author)

49 ratings

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This is the first such study of Operation Banner, the British Army's campaign in Northern Ireland. Drawing upon extensive interviews with former soldiers, primary archival sources including unpublished diaries and unit log-books, this book closely examines soldiers' behaviour at the small infantry-unit level (battalion downwards), including the leadership, cohesion and training that sustained, restrained and occasionally misdirected soldiers during the most violent period of the Troubles in Northern Ireland. It contends that there are aspects of wider scholarly literatures - including from sociology, anthropology, criminology and psychology - that can throw new light on our understanding of the British Army in Northern Ireland. It also offers fresh insights and analysis of incidents involving the British Army during the early years of Operation Banner, including the 1972 `Pitchfork murders' of Michael Naan and Andrew Murray in County Fermanagh, and the killing of Warrenpoint hotel owner Edmund Woolsey in South Armagh.

Print length

400 pages
Language

English
Publisher

Liverpool University Press
Publication date

28 Feb. 2018
Dimensions

23.37 x 2.29 x 15.49 cm
ISBN-10

1786941031
ISBN-13

978-1786941039
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Product description

Review

An excellent, engaging and provocative study that addresses a crucial period during 'the Troubles' and examines patterns of behaviour within the British army as well as wider issues within Northern Ireland during this time. Dr David Murphy, Maynooth University 'Based on rich and original research, this is a well-researched and sophisticated study on the British Army in Northern Ireland.' --Professor Richard English, Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Internationalisation and Engagement, Queen's University Belfast

About the Author

Edward Burke is Assistant Professor in International Relations at the University of Nottingham.

Product details

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Liverpool University Press (28 Feb. 2018)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Paperback ‏ : ‎ 400 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1786941031
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1786941039
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 23.37 x 2.29 x 15.49 cm

Best Sellers Rank: 314,805 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- 218 in Defence Strategy & Research
- 759 in Architectural History
- 923 in War & Defence Operations

Customer reviews:
49 ratings

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2 star		3%
1 star		3%

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jim 24

An extremely well researched book on a very difficult subject ...

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 17 March 2018

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An extremely well researched book on a very difficult subject , As a Northern Ireland veteran I found some of the content almost difficult to read as it brought back some memories I'd prefer to forget . A must read book for any Military historian looking at the Northern Ireland Troubles.

31 people found this helpful

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Kindle Customer

A must for participants and historians alike

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 14 April 2018

Verified Purchase

Was involved in this book, but I still learned a lot. not least, the historical context of the British Army in previous 'low intensity wars' and how the powers that be a struggled with a background of LIWs abroad and in the situation Northern Ireland. While I will never, ever forget my experiences there, this book goes a long way in making things a lot clearer in my head. Would recommend this book to anyone with an interest in this particular conflict.

19 people found this helpful

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richard

An Army of Tribes

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 24 September 2019

Verified Purchase

In depth but still in incredibly "easy" read. Fascinating, I was there, knew nothing !

4 people found this helpful

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Pb

Interesting read

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 18 July 2020

Verified Purchase

A good read
Delivery was good
Price was reasonable

One person found this helpful

Helpful

One of the best.

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 24 March 2018

Verified Purchase

Having read more than 200 books on The Troubles I would say that this is one of the best. Burke shows with excellent research that there is still much more to learn about what happened in that dark period. His micro research on army battalions stationed in Northern Ireland produces a rich stream of fascinating and, at times, disturbing, material. produces new light and analysis of the times..

17 people found this helpful

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A vital work of history with real contemporary relevance.

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 18 May 2018

As some of the other reviewers have pointed out, from the perspective of the Troubles this is an obvious 'must-read'. Less obvious, perhaps, is the relevance of this very well-written and readable book to today's army. For example, and the title itself hints at this, there is the problem of the regimental system that often acts more as a series of families than units dedicated to the service of the state. They are indeed 'tribes', each with its own separate culture and approach, dictated both by tradition and to a lesser extent, to the personality of the incumbent Commanding Officer.

Burke has unearthed some fascinating stories from his research, which has comprised extensive interviews as well as prodigious archival digging. He has metaphorically and literally 'walked the ground' of the operations he describes. I was particularly struck by the contrast in approach as between two particular regiments, one which behaved professionally and with restraint, the other not so much. So far so British Army. The key point Burke picked up, however, was the operational advantage gained by the professional 'unit. Recruitment to the IRA went down, and the intelligence 'take' went up. The regiment which took over, operated more 'robustly', and as a consequence lost those gains in short order I will leave you to read for yourself which regiments were involved in that particular story. There are many, many other narrative gems like that. All of them demonstrate that as much as the Army may have changed, far more of it has stayed the same. .

Many of the factors Burke deals with here in the context of operations nearly fifty years ago are still with us; the existence of those same issues today asks very serious questions about whether the British Army is truly fit for its declared purpose of defending the realm. Recent operations in Iraq and Afghanistan have provided some pointers. This is as much a work of contemporary relevance as it is an excellent history in miniature of an important period in Britain's bruising experience in Northern Ireland. 'Army of Tribes' is essential reading for anyone interested not only in the army of the 'Troubles', but the Army of today. It is a classic.

28 people found this helpful

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Mr Aidan Walsh

A really super book, on the Troubles

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 5 April 2018

A really super book, on the Troubles, on small unit cohesion and on how history sets us traps that we are only too willing to fall into.

11 people found this helpful

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