From Deference to Defiance: the Transformation of the Orange

Order since 1950

Orange Dynamics since 1950

• Changes in mass membership

• Changes in social background of elites and masses

• Changes in institutional structure

• Ideological Shifts

• Relationship with parties and paramilitaries

• Relationship to Unionist identity

From Deference to Defiance

• 'Rough' vs. 'Respectable' (Bryan 2000)

• Division between 'Rebel' and 'Loyalist' traditions since the beginning

• Modernisation also matters

  Rebels Loyalists

Denomination Presbyterian, Methodist Church of Ireland

Plantation Origin Scots-Irish Anglo-Irish

Mass base Industrial Labour, Small freeholders Rural tenants

North American Exemplars ‘Scotch-Irish’ Patriots in USA, c. 1776 Irish Orange Loyalists in Canada, c. 1837

Interpretation of Orangeism Uphold militant Protestantism Uphold traditional British-Protestant values

View of Grand Lodge and Unionist leaders

Skeptical Respectful

Preferred Political Expression Direct Public Protest Informal elite channels

Preferred Orange Principle Ulster-Protestant ethnic interest and reformed faith - as embodied in abstract principle and the sentiments of the mass membership

Orange tradition - as embodied in Orange laws, ordinances, customs and history

Leadership Evangelical clergy, petit-bourgeoisie Aristocracy, Large local businessmen

Political Philosophy Lockean radical change, Populism Burkean evolution, Deference to elite consensus

Attitudes to alcohol, band discipline and traditional social mores

More permissive, with the exception of a small number of moral fundamentalists

Conservative

Stance toward paramilitaries and political violence

More permissive Antagonistic

Attitude toward British crown Conditionality Loyalty

Interpretation of Protestantism Protestantism as dissent Protestantism as tradition

National identity Ulstermen British

Favoured N.I. party DUP UUP

Regional base Antrim, N. Down, Belfast South and West

(Post-)Modernisation and Nationalism

• 'Rebel' side in better accord with modernity

• Thus 'modernisation' = ethno-nationalism & tradition = support for UUP moderates

• Akin to earlier waves of egalitarian/secular nationalism (ie France 1789-94; Germany post-Kulturkampf; Zionism)

• Echoed in Unionist electorate (DUP favoured by younger, less traditional)

• Contradicts some post-modernisation theory (ie Giddens)

Structural Changes

• Structure has changed little in 20th century, but informal changes key

• Class 'slippage' in the 20th c. at elite and mass level

• A more populist, 'Rebel' organisation today

Central Committee as 'Cabinet'

Structural Change?

• Informal power over policy concentrated within 30-40 member Central Committee ('Cabinet') and, to a lesser degree, Grand Lodge ('Parliament')

• 'Influentials' dominate CC proceedings

• Central Committee used to be more socially elite than the membership. Why?

• Deference 'pushes' men to the top (ie. IWW in USA)

Central Committee Class 'Slippage', 1954-95

• 1954: Only 9 Untitled out of 35. 16 JPs; 5 OBEs;

• 1995: 31 untitled out of 41; 1 MBE; 5 JPs; Just 3 Academic Degrees

Occupations of Mid-Level Orange Elite, 1901

BELFAST 1901 District Officers Master/Secs Belfast AverageProfessional 8% 1% 5%Petit-Bourgeois 46% 18%Skilled Worker 38% 49%Unskilled Worker 8% 31%N (sample) 39 99TYRONE 1901 District Officers Master/SecsProfessional 23% n/a 3%Petit-Bourgeois 17% n/aFarmer 57% n/a 57%Skilled Worker 3% n/aN (sample) 35

Status of Mid-Level Orange Elite, 2001 (MOSAIC)

BELFAST 2001 District Officers Master/Secs N.I. AverageA Class 6% 6.6% 9.9%Nonrural Top 12 48% 42% 40%Rural 0% 0% 18%Top 12 48% 42% 33%N (sample) 67 166TYRONE 2001 District Officers Master/SecsA Class 5.2% 6.6% 9.9%Nonrural Top 12 63% 70% 40%Rural 79% 74% 18%Top 12 13% 18% 33%N (sample) 77 182

  % Top 12

Rural 8

Bottom 7

Nonrural Top 12

Nonrural Bottom 7

N

Freemason officebearers

67.8% 15.5% 8.0% 80.2% 9.4% 766

Orange bloc UUC delegates

45.7% 36.2% 12.4% 71.6% 19.4% 105

UUC delegates total 44.3% 35.9% 8.4% 69.0% 13.1% 879

Grand Orange Lodge officebearers

34.7% 44.4% 9.7% 62.5% 17.5% 144

Northern Ireland population average

32.5% 18.1% 22.9% 39.6% 27.9% 1.6m

Orange Order (lodge) officebearers

32.4% 43.9% 12.4% 57.7% 22.1% 1429

Mass Class Slippage?: The Social Profile of the UUC and Orange Order by MOSAIC Classification, 2003 (99% sample)

Elite and Mass Class Slippage

• Total 22% non-manual membership in 1996

• Mid-level elite of private lodge masters/secs & district officers (top .5 to 5% of Orangemen) has slipped considerably in 20th c.

• Flattened Orange social hierarchy

• US example: WCTU, 1885 and 1925

• Membership decline of 1/3 during 1965-2000. Related?

Consequences of Social Change

• Flattened hierarchy and downward mobility generates impetus for populism

• Two events: – 1953-4: Dungiven Controversy: 'Orange &

Protestant Committee' response – 1995-6: Drumcree Controversy: 'Spirit of

Drumcree' response

Dungiven1953

• Residents of mostly RC town of Dungiven prevent local Orange band from marching in Coronation parade, 1953

• Grand Lodge sides with UUP elite and police

• Grand Lodge openly appeals to brethren to support UUP against Independents in October election

Orange & Protestant Committee, 1954

• 'Orange & Protestant Committee' formed, 1954. 12 of 16 leaders from E. Bann.

• 1400 rebels rally at Wellington Hall, Belfast

• Grievances against 'undemocratic' Central Committee, Lack of defense of rights to march/emblems & support for UUP

• Tough response: Leaders suspended on an

11-4 vote in Central Committee. No concessions.

Drumcree, post-1995

• Orange march halted by RC protestors, Portadown, from 1995 on.

• 'Spirit of Drumcree' splinter movement led by Joel Patton

• 1500 meet in Ulster Hall, Belfast, 1995

• Plus Ça Change?: Grievances over talks with Residents' Groups; UUP-Orange link; 'Undemocratic' Grand Lodge Structures

Drumcree - Aftermath

• Leaders not disciplined, unlike 1954. Order attempts to conciliate.

• Traditionalist legitimation vs. Rebels: 'Encouragement to violence is unchristian, and calls for 'direct democracy' are republican.' - Grand Lodge, 1995

Drumcree - Aftermath• Smyth resigns, 1996; Saulters takes over, 1997• 1997 Occupation of House of Orange by Spirit of

Drumcree• Physically prevented the moderate Education

Committee members from speaking to Parades Commission, 1997

• Saulters, Watson - U-turn on policy in 1997-99• Spirit of Drumcree leaders only expelled in 1999 -

due to action of their own private lodge (who acted despite threats). Grand Lodge did not act.

Drumcree - Aftermath• Reduction in number of Grand Chaplains in Grand

Lodge (reduced religious/moderate influence), 1999

• Education Committee resigns en masse due to Grand Lodge censure. Reconstituted with DUP loyalists, 2000

• Rev. Brian Kenneway charges the new leadership with running scared of DUP and paramilitary-influenced elements. Suggests that there is a new (post-1998) culture of 'inverted snobbery' based on anti-intellectualism and anti-clericalism

• Populist elements may be on the verge of triumph

UUP share of Protestant vote at District Council level

2001 Election Study Findings (Protestants)

• Self-Identified Protestants participate at same level as Catholics

• Age by far the strongest predictor of UUP vote, esp. 18-24 vs. 55-65 cohorts

• Education level more important than income or class for a pro-UUP vote

• Anti-Establishment feeling very important for anti-UUP vote

  Rebels Loyalists

Denomination Presbyterian, Methodist Church of Ireland

Plantation Origin Scots-Irish Anglo-Irish

Mass base Industrial Labour, Small freeholders Rural tenants

North American Exemplars ‘Scotch-Irish’ Patriots in USA, c. 1776 Irish Orange Loyalists in Canada, c. 1837

Interpretation of Orangeism Uphold militant Protestantism Uphold traditional British-Protestant values

View of Grand Lodge and Unionist leaders

Skeptical Respectful

Preferred Political Expression Direct Public Protest Informal elite channels

Preferred Orange Principle Ulster-Protestant ethnic interest and reformed faith - as embodied in abstract principle and the sentiments of the mass membership

Orange tradition - as embodied in Orange laws, ordinances, customs and history

Leadership Evangelical clergy, petit-bourgeoisie Aristocracy, Large local businessmen

Political Philosophy Lockean radical change, Populism Burkean evolution, Deference to elite consensus

Attitudes to alcohol, band discipline and traditional social mores

More permissive, with the exception of a small number of moral fundamentalists

Conservative

Stance toward paramilitaries and political violence

More permissive Antagonistic

Attitude toward British crown Conditionality Loyalty

Interpretation of Protestantism Protestantism as dissent Protestantism as tradition

National identity Ulstermen British

Favoured N.I. party DUP UUP

Regional base Antrim, N. Down, Belfast South and West

2001 Election Study Findings (Protestants)

• Self-Identified Protestants participate at same level as Catholics

• Age by far the strongest predictor of UUP vote, esp. 18-24 vs. 55-65 cohorts

• Education level more important than income or class for a pro-UUP vote

• Anti-Establishment feeling very important for anti-UUP vote

Traditionalists (Orange & Other), Co. Tyrone

Orange Skeptics & Liberal Civics (East Belfast)

Non-Orange Skeptics: Protestant Working-Class Area, Co. Armagh

Conclusion

• Major social change within the Order, 1950-present

• Flattening of hierarchies, class slippage, membership decline

• From pillar of corporatism to outsider/lobby

• 2/3 membership favour breaking link (1997)

• 'Rebel', DUP influence on the rise

• Reflects broader social changes in Unionist community rather than DUP putsch

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