Individual and contextual factors leading to engagement with paramilitary republican groups

The aim of this article is to understand who was/are most likely to join paramilitary republican groups both during the Troubles and in contemporary Northern Ireland. Fifty-three primary source interviews with community leaders and former paramilitaries based in Belfast were thematically analysed. The analysis is based on the abductive engagement with social learning theories and general strain theory of terrorism (GSTT). Four themes were identified in the thematic analysis: (1) community experiences and history of injustice and violence, (2) socio-economic influence, (3) family lineage versus individual vulnerability and (4) not leaving the communities. The first two themes explain the community context helping to shape the justification for the existence of paramilitary groups, while the final two themes outline who is most likely to join. It was noted that GSTT provides a good theoretical explanation for the community contexts, while social learning theories partially assists in developing our understanding of who is most likely to join. The research emphasises the need for an integrated theoretical approach to understanding engagement in paramilitary republicanism.