About Article

How can we better understand the rationale and motives for loyalist paramilitary violence towards the Republic of Ireland and its effects? From 1969 to 1998, the Republic of Ireland was often targeted by loyalist paramilitary organisations. These armed groups sought to maintain Northern Ireland’s position within the United Kingdom in opposition to violent Irish republican organisations who pursued a reunified Ireland. Violent loyalist paramilitary campaigns within the Republic of Ireland evolved as loyalist paramilitary strategy developed throughout the conflict. Using social movement theory alongside theories on clandestine organisations, I argue that these loyalist paramilitary campaigns within the Republic of Ireland were influenced both by loyalist group strategy, their interaction with other state and non-state actors involved in the conflict, and their perceptions of state power, influence, and broader conflict dynamics. I will also demonstrate that loyalist paramilitaries were capable of carrying out these attacks and the article further illustrates how loyalist paramilitary attacks exerted limited influence upon the Republic’s security policy along the Irish border and how the Irish Government approached the Northern Ireland conflict