From Respectability to Violence?: the Transformation of the Orange Order since 1950

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From Respectability to Violence? the
Transformation of the Orange Order since 1950
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Social Change in Orangeism Since 1950

• A less hierarchical organisation
• Changes in social background of elites and masses
  in 20th c
• Growth of political populism within Orange Order
  since 1950

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Rough or Respectable?

• Division between 'Rough' and 'Respectable' (Bryan
  2000)
• Division between 'Rebel' and 'Loyalist'
  traditions since the beginning
• Modernisation shifts the balance

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(Post-)Modernisation and Nationalism

• 'Rebel' side in better accord with modernity
• Thus modernisation populist nationalism while
  tradition support for UUP moderates
• Contradicts some post-modernisation theory that
  sees the decline of ethnic, religious or national
  identities (ie Giddens)

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Paramilitary Infiltration

• Paramilitaries intimidating and infiltrating
  Orange Order in inner-city Belfast and even other
  urban areas
• Dawson Baillie admits that some members in
  paramilitaries
• Baillie acknowledges paramilitary support for
  parades
• Baillie cites pressure from grassroots that
  Order not 'doing enough'

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Decline of Skilled-Worker Base in Belfast
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Change in Urban Orangeism

• Sharp Membership decline in urban areas and
  larger towns
• Few (0-5) young urban Protestant men are in the
  Order
• Membership losses to alternative forms of
  Protestant identity (bands, paramilitaries)
• Secularisation, de-traditionalisation,
  de-industrialisation
• Belfast Order 'adapts' by relaxing moral code and
  line against paramilitarism in order to retain
  members

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Orange Order Lodges Density 1991
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Orange Order Density 1991
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Male Orange Density, N.I., 1971
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Orange Naughtiness by County, 1964-2002
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A Decline of Discipline?

• Ryder Kearney (2001), as well as Drumcree and
  interface violence would suggest this
• Some suggest that there has been a change in the
  culture of Orangeism toward greater
  permissiveness
• Others claim that the middle class has been
  deserting the Order

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Discipline Has Never Been Strong

• Gusty Spence and Robert Williamson, UVF men,
  sentenced for murder of Catholics, 1966
• Mid-June 1967 debate at Grand Lodge. One lodge
  moves for non-expulsion, decision deferred for 6
  mos. pending outcome of Shankill Rd. petition
• Though suspended in 1967, few similar cases
• What has changed is elite's willingness to
  suspend for challenging the leadership (ie Spirit
  of Drumcree vs. Orange Protestant Committee of
  1953-4)

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Profile of Orange Resignations, 1998-2003
Avg 27 Rural NR Bottom 7 NR Top 12 N
Orangemen 2001 6.082114 35.51 12.43 58.66 3368
Resignations98-03 5.852616 15.78 18.27 52.94 767
Difference 0.229497 19.73 -5.84 5.71
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Postcode Profile of Suspended Orangemen, 2002





Avg 27 NR Bottom 7 NR Top 12 N. Cases
Grand Lodge 3.07 18 63 144
Suspended 3.06 35 41 296
District Officers 3.02 17 61 803
MastersSec 3.07 22 58 1429
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Conclusion Violence and Paramilitarism

• Young loyalists increasingly favour DUP, less
  likely to support traditional institutions
  (churches, Orangeism)
• Change in urban, loyalist culture forces
  Orangeism to 'adapt' in order to stanch losses
• Changes also affect the Order at the top and
  cause rifts between country-based
  'traditionalists' and militants from the towns
  and E. Bann counties
• Though violence on the rise, discipline has never
  been strongly enforced in the Order