Unionism Decayed

The author of Unionism Decayed begins „If there is one thing in life worse than being a unionist, it is being a unionist that has consistently opposed the provisions of the Belfast Agreement/Good Friday Agreement“. The cards are firmly on the table, and remain there throughout a many-sided account of life largely outside but dipping into the mainstream of Northern Irish Unionist politics. I'm not sure if there isn't even a touch of black humour in this opening- from the author's perspective his unionist unionism has been firmly „beyond the pale“ of civilised opinion in the British Isles for many years now. The black humour is inescapable later on in his account, however.

Unionism Decayed is a book about politics, a serious-minded book that explores how politics sets the context for life, and how life interacts with politics. A lot of it deals with the detail of various agreements, but not in a history book way- rather to highlight how a power struggle has really been taking place and how these details act rather like the holds of a wrestling match forcing an opponent into submission.

This drama is not easy to capture, but the author does it with great concentration and occasionally
great grace:
„the fields of Drumcree now more closely resembled the fields of the Somme. Mud was everywhere and the scene was cast in the glow of a blood red setting sun. British soldiers stood there ready to do battle with those Orangemen who wished to parade in remembrance of British soldiers who perished at the Somme. IRA/Sinn Fein strategy was working out perfectly“. Shortly afterwards he quotes Gerry Adams himself talking of Drumcree saying „they are the type of scene changes that we have to focus in on, and develop, and exploit“

While not at all coming across as a conspiracist, David Vance keeps his ear to the ground- yet he has the discipline to point out that the above-mentioned quote came from a transcript obtained by Ireland's RTE state broadcaster.

Thus it goes with Unionism Decayed- a thematic account of events and political interventions highlighted and ruminated upon, which balances forthright comment with carefully supported instances.

Vance's perspective is that of an energised commoner- a reluctant politician with deep personal experience arising out of the so-called troubles. A man whose energies, experiences and intelligence propelled him just far enough to glimpse the webs of government in Westminster, and to také the pulse of his local political sphere. Like his political mentor, Robert Mcartney of the UK Unionists, whom Vance approvingly quotes calling Dr Paisley a „fifth rate Calvin“, Vance is prepared to have a dig at anyone whom he considers insincere or out of their depth. His view is more or less that politics is too serious to be left to the politicians- a view which, Vance recognises, the IRA/Sinn Fein have been great exponents of.

This in fact is the great strength of Unionism Decayed- its bypartisan critical spirit. Vance is an equal opportunities critic. It is a fierce and clever book which never shows off, but instead reserves its energies to condemn the contemptible. It is as unsparing in its description of the barbarity of so-called loyalist terrorism as it is of the nationalist type, and it makes some vital points- the most devastating, coming from such lively mind and active spirit, being that Unionists have lost.

I have but one nit to pick in Unionism Decayed- I had to look up a quote from Pope „Violence is a monster so frightful mien“ because the author had omitted the word „of“. Not all of us are as focussed on reality as David Vance, and a number of such rough edges did make me doubt slightly the author's grasp. In the end though I held no such doubts. Unionism Decayed is a valuable, timely book, that needed to be written and has been carried off powerfully well.