Material Conflicts

The deep and abiding sectarian divide splintering Northern Ireland has been the focus of considerable attention recently. In particular, the role parades and visual displays play in underscoring opposition has come into the spotlight with the emergence of heightened tensions, close on the heels of a tentative peace.

'An impressive work. Its concern is the role of commemorative parades, banners and wall murals in the production and reproduction of collective and social memory, and of community as the bearer and custodian of memory. Jarman is not the first to take on these topics but he has done so more comprehensively and with greater subtlety and insight than anyone to date.'Sociology'this book offers a wide-ranging and infomative discussion of the symbolic andmaterial importance of marching in the politics of everyday life in Northern Ireland. For those uninitiated in the cultural politics of parading this book forms an invaluable guide. The variety of source material used and the clear style of the prose makes it highly readable. Material Conflicts is to be commended for its breadth of discussion...Neil Jarman's commendable study provides an essential point of departure for those who may wish to explore these issues further.'Journal of Material Culture'An impressive work...

Neil Jarman The Queen's University of Belfast