‘Civic unionism’ must engage and challenge wider nationalism

Dr James Wilson is a freelance consultant, researcher and historian, and former member of the British army from Coleraine, Co Derry, who believes broader unionism must start engaging with and challenging wider nationalism.

He was stung into action by the letters to Taoiseach Leo Varadkar before and after Christmas from civic nationalists on both sides of the Border complaining that the Government needed to do more to protect the interests of nationalists in Northern Ireland.

He was anxious to counter any nationalist assumptions that civic unionism, coming from the opposite side of the great constitutional debate, was “passive” about or opposed to equality and rights.

Implicit here was a concern that unionism was not doing enough to challenge the Sinn Féin mantra of the past 14 months that unionism was denying nationalists “equality, integrity and respect”.

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‘Tentative approach’

It seems Dr Wilson was pushing an open door. Within 72 hours of the first "tentative approach" to wider unionism, he, with the help and encouragement of historian Prof Peter Shirlow, obtained 105 signatories supporting his text.

Most of the signatories fall within the category of unionism – hence the “civic unionism” description – although some might prefer to see themselves as less definitively aligned.

In their letter, which they hope Mr Varadkar and the British government will respond to, they say they “wish to unite, not divide, and in encouraging transparency we call upon civic nationalism and others to engage with us in frank and fulsome debates about the many values and beliefs that are commonly shared and are vital to transforming the issues that we face”.

Irresolvable issue

They offer no specific statement on, for instance, their approach to an Irish language Act, the irresolvable issue which scuppered the opportunity to reinstate the Northern Executive and Assembly.

But, being such a disparate group, that is not so surprising. What Dr Wilson and Prof Shirlow are more about, they say, is creating a “big tent” where the voices of broad unionism and nationalism and others will be heard “for the benefit of society” in Northern Ireland.

The letter is welcome because it comes at a time of political polarisation and community disenchantment when centre-ground unionism was far too quiet. Civic unionism may be coming out of its shell.