Sean Byrne | University of Manitoba (original) (raw)

Papers by Sean Byrne

Research paper thumbnail of Civil Society Leaders’ Experiences of Peacebuilding in Londonderry/Derry City, Northern Ireland: Transforming Cultural and Psychological Barriers

Peace and Conflict Studies, 2021

This article reviews the empirical data the second author collected from 120 semi-structured inte... more This article reviews the empirical data the second author collected from 120 semi-structured interviews with the leaders of Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) and funding agency development officers conducted during the summer of 2010 in Northern Ireland and the Border Counties. The research explores 44 Derry City respondents' experiences and perceptions regarding external economic aid in the Northern Ireland peace process. To this end, this article explores the role of economic aid from the International Fund for Ireland (IFI) and the European Union (EU) Peace and Reconciliation or Peace 3 Fund in engaging with civil society in transforming psychological and cultural barriers towards building sustainable peace in Londonderry or Derry City. Themes emerged inductively from data. It includes the CSO leaders' and funding agency development officers' perspectives on building peace and both funds' impact on the Northern Ireland peacebuilding process. CSO leaders and fundi...

Research paper thumbnail of Introduction: Peacebuilding, Reconciliation, and Transformation

Peace and Conflict Studies, 2010

This introductory article in the special issue on Peacebuilding, Reconciliation, and Transformati... more This introductory article in the special issue on Peacebuilding, Reconciliation, and Transformation highlights some of the central themes within the emergent field of Peace and Conflict Studies (PACS). The article discusses how this transdisciplinary field contributes to our understanding of some of the key issues that confront the PACS field in terms of analysis, theory building, and praxis. The contributors to this special issue provide a broad array of perspectives that explores conflicts and its transformation from a multidimensional perspective.

Research paper thumbnail of Enigmatic Bosnia Matters: Coexistence in Bavljinje during the Light and Darkness of Yugoslavia’s War

Peace and Conflict Studies, 2007

Constructive stories of coexistence during protracted interethnic conflict are rare; however, the... more Constructive stories of coexistence during protracted interethnic conflict are rare; however, they have important implications for interethnic reconciliation and peacemaking (Senehi, 2002). The events that took place in the village of Bavljinje highlight the humanity displayed by neighbors in the midst of ethnic cleansing. Such stories illustrate that positive relationships can prevail in interethnic warfare and can be an important source of healing form the trauma of violent ethnic conflict. The story of Bavljinje also indicates the complexity of intergroup conflict and the need of such powerful metaphors in the postconflict peacebuilding process.

Research paper thumbnail of Handbook of Conflict Analysis and Resolution

Handbook of Conflict Analysis and Resolution, 2008

Research paper thumbnail of Economic Aid: The End of Phase II and the Impact on Sustainable Peacebuilding in Northern Ireland

Journal of Intervention and Statebuilding, 2009

Abstract Economic aid has been a critical component of the peace process in Northern Ireland allo... more Abstract Economic aid has been a critical component of the peace process in Northern Ireland allowing for community-based interventions, employment, social inclusion and regional stability. With the second round of funding coming to a close this essay explores ...

Research paper thumbnail of Building Trust and Goodwill in Northern Ireland and the Border Counties: The Impact of Economic Aid on the Peace Process

Irish Political Studies, 2009

Abstract This article examines attitudes to the impacts of the International Fund for Ireland (IF... more Abstract This article examines attitudes to the impacts of the International Fund for Ireland (IFI) and the European Union Peace II Fund on building trust and goodwill in Northern Ireland. It draws on interviews of 98 study participants conducted during the summer of ...

Research paper thumbnail of Economic assistance and peacebuilding in Northern Ireland

Peace Research, 2007

... ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS We would like to thank Jessica Senehi, Hamdesa Tuso, Tom Boudreau, and the a... more ... ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS We would like to thank Jessica Senehi, Hamdesa Tuso, Tom Boudreau, and the anonymous reviewers from Peace Research ... Paul Bew, Peter Gibbon, and Henry Patterson, Northern Ireland, 1921–94: Political Forces and Social Classes (London: Serif ...

Research paper thumbnail of Israel, Northern Ireland, and South Africa at a crossroads: understanding intergroup conflict, peace-building, and conflict resolution

International Journal of Group Tensions, 1999

ABSTRACT: The Israeli, Northern Ireland, and South African conflicts are compared to explore the ... more ABSTRACT: The Israeli, Northern Ireland, and South African conflicts are compared to explore the underlying nature of conflict in these three conflict zones. The nature of the state and the economy, the treatment of dissenting non-dominant groups by the state, and the role of ...

Research paper thumbnail of Civil Society/NGO Leaders Perceptions of the Effectiveness of the IFI and the EU Peace III Fund in Promoting Equality, Equity, Social Justice and the Fulfillment of Basic Human Needs in (L’) Derry and the Border Area

Journal for Peace and Justice Studies, 2012

Research paper thumbnail of Building future coexistence or keeping people apart

International Journal of Conflict Management, 2012

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to explore the importance of cross‐communal cooperation and i... more PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to explore the importance of cross‐communal cooperation and its contribution to peacebuilding and reconciliation in Northern Ireland through the opinions of 752 respondents.Design/methodology/approachA multivariate analysis of the respondents' opinions was gathered through a Public Opinion Survey (MBU 2006), which addresses the issue of physical separation of the Catholic and Protestant communities in the context of the Northern Ireland peace process.FindingsFindings indicate that religion is a key variable in any discussion of the sustainability of the Northern Ireland peace process in relation to cross‐community initiatives, social and economic integration as well as existing divisions between both communities. Moreover, professional and skilled worker respondents disagreed that the impacts of physical separation between both communities supports the peace process. Catholic Nationalists and respondents from Belfast city and the Western regio...

Research paper thumbnail of The role of external economic assistance in nurturing cross-community contact and reconciliation in Northern Ireland and the Border Counties

Community Development Journal, 2012

Protracted ethnopolitical conflicts often emanate from structural violence, and from the vulnerab... more Protracted ethnopolitical conflicts often emanate from structural violence, and from the vulnerability and marginalization of sections of a community. During the Troubles, Northern Ireland and the Border areas were characterized by an intractable conflict between Nationalists and Unionists. External economic assistance could be a key peacebuilding intervention in facilitating cross-community contacts and reconciliation, thereby addressing historical injustices in Northern Ireland by promoting justice, equality, and dignity. The European Union (EU) Programme for Peace and Reconciliation in Northern Ireland and the Border Region of Ireland, 2007–2013 (EU Peace III) is aimed at promoting reconciliation and in facilitating progress towards the building of a peaceful and stable society. This study examines the perceptions of 120 community group leaders, and community development officers in Derry and the Border Counties about the impact of the International Fund for Ireland (IFI) and the EU Peace III Fund in encouraging cross-community contact and reconciliation between the Nationalist and Unionist communities. While the IFI and the Peace III Fund have successfully promoted cross-community contact and reconciliation in Northern Ireland and the Border Area, this study indicates that both funders' bureaucracy hinders sustainable community development. This study recommends the need to decentralize community peace projects to facilitate community ownership and their sustainability.

Research paper thumbnail of The role of the International Fund for Ireland and the European Union Peace II Fund in reducing violence and sectarianism in Northern Ireland

International Politics, 2010

This study attempts to understand the perceived contribution of the International Fund for Irelan... more This study attempts to understand the perceived contribution of the International Fund for Ireland and European Union Peace II Fund in reducing violence and sectarianism in Northern Ireland (NI). We employ cross tabulations and nonlinear binary response models using public ...

Research paper thumbnail of The Impact of International Funding on Reconciliation and Human Security in Northern Ireland

Journal of Human Security, 2010

During the summer of 2006, 98 interviews were conducted in the Border areas, Derry, and Belfast, ... more During the summer of 2006, 98 interviews were conducted in the Border areas, Derry, and Belfast, with recipients of economic aid from the International Fund for Ireland and/or the European Union Peace II Fund. The research findings point to the importance of micro-...

Research paper thumbnail of Social Polarization and Conflict: A Network Approach

Information Systems: Behavioral & Social Methods eJournal, 2013

Cardenas, E. (2013). Social polarization and conflict: A network approach. Cuadernos de Economia,... more Cardenas, E. (2013). Social polarization and conflict: A network approach. Cuadernos de Economia, 32(61), 787-801. Theoretically, polarization is associated with a higher probability of social conflict. This paper, in a microeconomic model based on the theory of social net works, analyses how changes in the network’s structure affect the level of some basic parameters associated with the concept of polarization. This study shows that under upward monotonic preferences, longer sets of affiliations for each indi vidual reduce polarization, whereas under downward monotonic preferences, longer sets of the so-called bad affiliations increase polarization. Finally, in the case of a non-monotonic system of preferences, an expansion of the affiliations set will alter the resulting polarization order in different ways depending on the preferences themselves.

Research paper thumbnail of Peacebuilding, Reconciliation, and Transformation: Voices from the Canada–EU Conflict Resolution Student Exchange Consortium

Part of the Peace and Conflict Studies Commons This Full Issue is brought to you for free and ope... more Part of the Peace and Conflict Studies Commons This Full Issue is brought to you for free and open access by the CAHSS Journals at NSUWorks. It has been accepted for inclusion in Peace and Conflict Studies by an authorized administrator of NSUWorks. For more

Research paper thumbnail of The Perception of Economic Assistance in the Northern Ireland Peace Process: The Impact of IFI

Part of the Peace and Conflict Studies Commons This Article is brought to you for free and open a... more Part of the Peace and Conflict Studies Commons This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the CAHSS Journals at NSUWorks. It has been accepted for inclusion in Peace and Conflict Studies by an authorized administrator of NSUWorks. For more information, please contact

Research paper thumbnail of The Perception of Economic Assistance in the Northern Ireland Peace Process: The Impact of IFI and EU Peace I on Equity and Awareness

Peace and Conflict Studies

Most international donors believe that promoting economic development deescalates ethnic conflict... more Most international donors believe that promoting economic development deescalates ethnic conflict, thus enhancing the prospects for peace as ethnic communities negotiate settlements and bridge their political divisions. However, little empirical research has addressed the potential effects of external economic assistance in the rebuilding of those societies. This study explores the perceptions of a representative sample of Northern Irish citizens on their awareness of the activities of International Fund for Ireland and the European Peace I fund toward economic development, the perceived equity of its distribution, and its contribution to building peace in Northern Ireland.

Research paper thumbnail of Social Cubism: Six Social Forces of Ethnoterritorial Politics in Northern Ireland and Quebec

Peace and Conflict Studies

Research paper thumbnail of International mediation

Research paper thumbnail of The Perception of Economic Assistance in the Northern Ireland Peace Process: The Impact of IFI and EU Peace I on Equity and Awareness

Peace and Conflict Studies, 2010

Most international donors believe that promoting economic development deescalates ethnic conflict... more Most international donors believe that promoting economic development deescalates ethnic conflict, thus enhancing the prospects for peace as ethnic communities negotiate settlements and bridge their political divisions. However, little empirical research has addressed the potential effects of external economic assistance in the rebuilding of those societies. This study explores the perceptions of a representative sample of Northern Irish citizens on their awareness of the activities of International Fund for Ireland and the European Peace I fund toward economic development, the perceived equity of its distribution, and its contribution to building peace in Northern Ireland. Author Bio(s) Sean Byrne is Professor of Peace and Conflict Studies, and Head of the Ph.D. and Joint M.A. Programs in Peace and Conflict Studies at the University of Manitoba, and Director of the Arthur V. Mauro Centre for Peace and Justice at St. Paul’s College at the University of Manitoba. He is author of Econ...

Research paper thumbnail of Civil Society Leaders’ Experiences of Peacebuilding in Londonderry/Derry City, Northern Ireland: Transforming Cultural and Psychological Barriers

Peace and Conflict Studies, 2021

This article reviews the empirical data the second author collected from 120 semi-structured inte... more This article reviews the empirical data the second author collected from 120 semi-structured interviews with the leaders of Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) and funding agency development officers conducted during the summer of 2010 in Northern Ireland and the Border Counties. The research explores 44 Derry City respondents' experiences and perceptions regarding external economic aid in the Northern Ireland peace process. To this end, this article explores the role of economic aid from the International Fund for Ireland (IFI) and the European Union (EU) Peace and Reconciliation or Peace 3 Fund in engaging with civil society in transforming psychological and cultural barriers towards building sustainable peace in Londonderry or Derry City. Themes emerged inductively from data. It includes the CSO leaders' and funding agency development officers' perspectives on building peace and both funds' impact on the Northern Ireland peacebuilding process. CSO leaders and fundi...

Research paper thumbnail of Introduction: Peacebuilding, Reconciliation, and Transformation

Peace and Conflict Studies, 2010

This introductory article in the special issue on Peacebuilding, Reconciliation, and Transformati... more This introductory article in the special issue on Peacebuilding, Reconciliation, and Transformation highlights some of the central themes within the emergent field of Peace and Conflict Studies (PACS). The article discusses how this transdisciplinary field contributes to our understanding of some of the key issues that confront the PACS field in terms of analysis, theory building, and praxis. The contributors to this special issue provide a broad array of perspectives that explores conflicts and its transformation from a multidimensional perspective.

Research paper thumbnail of Enigmatic Bosnia Matters: Coexistence in Bavljinje during the Light and Darkness of Yugoslavia’s War

Peace and Conflict Studies, 2007

Constructive stories of coexistence during protracted interethnic conflict are rare; however, the... more Constructive stories of coexistence during protracted interethnic conflict are rare; however, they have important implications for interethnic reconciliation and peacemaking (Senehi, 2002). The events that took place in the village of Bavljinje highlight the humanity displayed by neighbors in the midst of ethnic cleansing. Such stories illustrate that positive relationships can prevail in interethnic warfare and can be an important source of healing form the trauma of violent ethnic conflict. The story of Bavljinje also indicates the complexity of intergroup conflict and the need of such powerful metaphors in the postconflict peacebuilding process.

Research paper thumbnail of Handbook of Conflict Analysis and Resolution

Handbook of Conflict Analysis and Resolution, 2008

Research paper thumbnail of Economic Aid: The End of Phase II and the Impact on Sustainable Peacebuilding in Northern Ireland

Journal of Intervention and Statebuilding, 2009

Abstract Economic aid has been a critical component of the peace process in Northern Ireland allo... more Abstract Economic aid has been a critical component of the peace process in Northern Ireland allowing for community-based interventions, employment, social inclusion and regional stability. With the second round of funding coming to a close this essay explores ...

Research paper thumbnail of Building Trust and Goodwill in Northern Ireland and the Border Counties: The Impact of Economic Aid on the Peace Process

Irish Political Studies, 2009

Abstract This article examines attitudes to the impacts of the International Fund for Ireland (IF... more Abstract This article examines attitudes to the impacts of the International Fund for Ireland (IFI) and the European Union Peace II Fund on building trust and goodwill in Northern Ireland. It draws on interviews of 98 study participants conducted during the summer of ...

Research paper thumbnail of Economic assistance and peacebuilding in Northern Ireland

Peace Research, 2007

... ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS We would like to thank Jessica Senehi, Hamdesa Tuso, Tom Boudreau, and the a... more ... ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS We would like to thank Jessica Senehi, Hamdesa Tuso, Tom Boudreau, and the anonymous reviewers from Peace Research ... Paul Bew, Peter Gibbon, and Henry Patterson, Northern Ireland, 1921–94: Political Forces and Social Classes (London: Serif ...

Research paper thumbnail of Israel, Northern Ireland, and South Africa at a crossroads: understanding intergroup conflict, peace-building, and conflict resolution

International Journal of Group Tensions, 1999

ABSTRACT: The Israeli, Northern Ireland, and South African conflicts are compared to explore the ... more ABSTRACT: The Israeli, Northern Ireland, and South African conflicts are compared to explore the underlying nature of conflict in these three conflict zones. The nature of the state and the economy, the treatment of dissenting non-dominant groups by the state, and the role of ...

Research paper thumbnail of Civil Society/NGO Leaders Perceptions of the Effectiveness of the IFI and the EU Peace III Fund in Promoting Equality, Equity, Social Justice and the Fulfillment of Basic Human Needs in (L’) Derry and the Border Area

Journal for Peace and Justice Studies, 2012

Research paper thumbnail of Building future coexistence or keeping people apart

International Journal of Conflict Management, 2012

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to explore the importance of cross‐communal cooperation and i... more PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to explore the importance of cross‐communal cooperation and its contribution to peacebuilding and reconciliation in Northern Ireland through the opinions of 752 respondents.Design/methodology/approachA multivariate analysis of the respondents' opinions was gathered through a Public Opinion Survey (MBU 2006), which addresses the issue of physical separation of the Catholic and Protestant communities in the context of the Northern Ireland peace process.FindingsFindings indicate that religion is a key variable in any discussion of the sustainability of the Northern Ireland peace process in relation to cross‐community initiatives, social and economic integration as well as existing divisions between both communities. Moreover, professional and skilled worker respondents disagreed that the impacts of physical separation between both communities supports the peace process. Catholic Nationalists and respondents from Belfast city and the Western regio...

Research paper thumbnail of The role of external economic assistance in nurturing cross-community contact and reconciliation in Northern Ireland and the Border Counties

Community Development Journal, 2012

Protracted ethnopolitical conflicts often emanate from structural violence, and from the vulnerab... more Protracted ethnopolitical conflicts often emanate from structural violence, and from the vulnerability and marginalization of sections of a community. During the Troubles, Northern Ireland and the Border areas were characterized by an intractable conflict between Nationalists and Unionists. External economic assistance could be a key peacebuilding intervention in facilitating cross-community contacts and reconciliation, thereby addressing historical injustices in Northern Ireland by promoting justice, equality, and dignity. The European Union (EU) Programme for Peace and Reconciliation in Northern Ireland and the Border Region of Ireland, 2007–2013 (EU Peace III) is aimed at promoting reconciliation and in facilitating progress towards the building of a peaceful and stable society. This study examines the perceptions of 120 community group leaders, and community development officers in Derry and the Border Counties about the impact of the International Fund for Ireland (IFI) and the EU Peace III Fund in encouraging cross-community contact and reconciliation between the Nationalist and Unionist communities. While the IFI and the Peace III Fund have successfully promoted cross-community contact and reconciliation in Northern Ireland and the Border Area, this study indicates that both funders' bureaucracy hinders sustainable community development. This study recommends the need to decentralize community peace projects to facilitate community ownership and their sustainability.

Research paper thumbnail of The role of the International Fund for Ireland and the European Union Peace II Fund in reducing violence and sectarianism in Northern Ireland

International Politics, 2010

This study attempts to understand the perceived contribution of the International Fund for Irelan... more This study attempts to understand the perceived contribution of the International Fund for Ireland and European Union Peace II Fund in reducing violence and sectarianism in Northern Ireland (NI). We employ cross tabulations and nonlinear binary response models using public ...

Research paper thumbnail of The Impact of International Funding on Reconciliation and Human Security in Northern Ireland

Journal of Human Security, 2010

During the summer of 2006, 98 interviews were conducted in the Border areas, Derry, and Belfast, ... more During the summer of 2006, 98 interviews were conducted in the Border areas, Derry, and Belfast, with recipients of economic aid from the International Fund for Ireland and/or the European Union Peace II Fund. The research findings point to the importance of micro-...

Research paper thumbnail of Social Polarization and Conflict: A Network Approach

Information Systems: Behavioral & Social Methods eJournal, 2013

Cardenas, E. (2013). Social polarization and conflict: A network approach. Cuadernos de Economia,... more Cardenas, E. (2013). Social polarization and conflict: A network approach. Cuadernos de Economia, 32(61), 787-801. Theoretically, polarization is associated with a higher probability of social conflict. This paper, in a microeconomic model based on the theory of social net works, analyses how changes in the network’s structure affect the level of some basic parameters associated with the concept of polarization. This study shows that under upward monotonic preferences, longer sets of affiliations for each indi vidual reduce polarization, whereas under downward monotonic preferences, longer sets of the so-called bad affiliations increase polarization. Finally, in the case of a non-monotonic system of preferences, an expansion of the affiliations set will alter the resulting polarization order in different ways depending on the preferences themselves.

Research paper thumbnail of Peacebuilding, Reconciliation, and Transformation: Voices from the Canada–EU Conflict Resolution Student Exchange Consortium

Part of the Peace and Conflict Studies Commons This Full Issue is brought to you for free and ope... more Part of the Peace and Conflict Studies Commons This Full Issue is brought to you for free and open access by the CAHSS Journals at NSUWorks. It has been accepted for inclusion in Peace and Conflict Studies by an authorized administrator of NSUWorks. For more

Research paper thumbnail of The Perception of Economic Assistance in the Northern Ireland Peace Process: The Impact of IFI

Part of the Peace and Conflict Studies Commons This Article is brought to you for free and open a... more Part of the Peace and Conflict Studies Commons This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the CAHSS Journals at NSUWorks. It has been accepted for inclusion in Peace and Conflict Studies by an authorized administrator of NSUWorks. For more information, please contact

Research paper thumbnail of The Perception of Economic Assistance in the Northern Ireland Peace Process: The Impact of IFI and EU Peace I on Equity and Awareness

Peace and Conflict Studies

Most international donors believe that promoting economic development deescalates ethnic conflict... more Most international donors believe that promoting economic development deescalates ethnic conflict, thus enhancing the prospects for peace as ethnic communities negotiate settlements and bridge their political divisions. However, little empirical research has addressed the potential effects of external economic assistance in the rebuilding of those societies. This study explores the perceptions of a representative sample of Northern Irish citizens on their awareness of the activities of International Fund for Ireland and the European Peace I fund toward economic development, the perceived equity of its distribution, and its contribution to building peace in Northern Ireland.

Research paper thumbnail of Social Cubism: Six Social Forces of Ethnoterritorial Politics in Northern Ireland and Quebec

Peace and Conflict Studies

Research paper thumbnail of International mediation

Research paper thumbnail of The Perception of Economic Assistance in the Northern Ireland Peace Process: The Impact of IFI and EU Peace I on Equity and Awareness

Peace and Conflict Studies, 2010

Most international donors believe that promoting economic development deescalates ethnic conflict... more Most international donors believe that promoting economic development deescalates ethnic conflict, thus enhancing the prospects for peace as ethnic communities negotiate settlements and bridge their political divisions. However, little empirical research has addressed the potential effects of external economic assistance in the rebuilding of those societies. This study explores the perceptions of a representative sample of Northern Irish citizens on their awareness of the activities of International Fund for Ireland and the European Peace I fund toward economic development, the perceived equity of its distribution, and its contribution to building peace in Northern Ireland. Author Bio(s) Sean Byrne is Professor of Peace and Conflict Studies, and Head of the Ph.D. and Joint M.A. Programs in Peace and Conflict Studies at the University of Manitoba, and Director of the Arthur V. Mauro Centre for Peace and Justice at St. Paul’s College at the University of Manitoba. He is author of Econ...