Mobilising Ulster Unionism: New directions or old?

One consequence of the contemporary peace process in Ireland has been the surfacing from deep within working class loyalism of groupings openly challenging the traditional values of Unionism. For socialists one of the key questions is whether this marks some form of permanent change, or something that will be neutralised by the counter-positions taken by traditional supporters of Unionism. This article argues that while ‘new loyalism’ may modify the central themes of Unionism, it is unlikely in the foreseeable future to herald a break from them.