Peace and Conflict Studies - Spring 2014

Peace and Conflict Studies Volume 21, Number 1 25 The Role of Youth in Post Accord Transformation in Northern Ireland Christine Smith Ellison Abstract Despite increased international interest in the contribution of education to peacebuilding, there has been a neglect of the role that non-formal youth programming can play in this process. This article examines three such youth programmes in post-accord Northern Ireland through the theoretical lens of their contribution to social, economic and political transformations. Given the sustained context of segregation and limitations of the formal education sector as a mechanism for transformation, the paper argues that the non-formal sector has played an important role in ensuring inclusion of multiple youth perspectives in a divided society. It also raises a number of critical questions regarding the politics of multiple youth representation and the strength of genuine commitment to peacebuilding in terms of conflict transformation . Introduction The past decade has seen a growing recognition of the role that education plays in both fuelling conflict and contributing to processes of peacebuilding. This has been driven by the push to fulfil the education-related Millennium Development Goals. The focus on basic education for all (EFA) has arguably led not only to a neglect of the contribution non- formal education makes to peacebuilding, but also to the role of youth. Despite recent disturbances, Northern Ireland is often seen as a peacebuilding success and, fifteen years post-agreement, this paper examines the role of non-formal youth programming in peacebuilding. It begins by outlining developments over the past decade in the field of education and conflict, before highlighting the need to prioritise youth analysis in situations of conflict. It then provides a synthesis of the international research evidence on the linkages between youth, education and conflict. The second half of the article employs this theoretical framework to examine three youth programmes and their contribution to social, economic and political transformations in post-accord Northern Ireland. The paper argues that the non- formal sector has played an important role in ensuring inclusion of multiple youth Peace and Conflict Studies PCS (Spring 2014) 21(1), pp. 25-48 PCS Webpage: http://shss.nova.edu/pcs/ PCS (Spring 2014) 21(1) PCS Webpage: http://shss.nova.edu/pcs/ P CS (Spring 2014) 21(1) PCS Webpage: http://shss.nova.edu/pcs/