Reproduction of the divided community. A theoretical approach to the reproduction of divided communities, with a focus on integrated and shared education in Northern Ireland

Abstract

This text is a theoretical approach to the divided society in Northern Ireland, with a focus on how it is reproduced through the educational institutions and everyday practices, as well as through the symbolic landscape. Through Bourdieu’s educational sociology in combination with theories on diverse societies as well as the qualitative methods participant observation and text analysis it explores the mechanisms maintaining the divided society as well as the role of integrated schools in the prevention of the reproduction of the divided society. Because of its exploratory nature, this text is to be considered more of a on the way contribution to the discussion on the way forward from an outsider's point of view, specifically pertaining to the day-to-day lives of children and young people in Northern Ireland.