Beyond the Pale

IN SCOTLAND IT IS NEARLY ALWAYS CALLED SECTARIANISM, WHEN IT IS NOT. THIS ALLOWS THE MYTH TO CONTINUE THAT 'ONE SIDE IS AS BAD AS THE OTHER'. IN FACT, IT IS ONLY ONE-WAY AND IT IS NOT SECTARIANISM AT ALL, BUT ANTI-IRISH RACISM. THIS BOOK LOOKS BACK TO DISCOVER HOW SUCH ATTITUDES DEVELOPED, FROM THE FIRST ATTEMPTS TO CONQUER IRELAND RIGHT UP TO THE PRESENT DAY. WHAT CAUSED, AND CAUSES, PEOPLE TO HATE THE IRISH SO MUCH? BOOKS HAVE BEEN WRITTEN BEFORE ABOUT ANTI-IRISH RACISM IN SCOTLAND, BUT ONE HAS TO LOOK AT THE WIDER PICTURE. THOSE RACISTS CONSIDER THEMSELVES BRITISH, SO ONE HAS TO CONSIDER THE ATTITUDES OF THE WHOLE UK. IN ENGLAND, THOSE ATTITUDES HAVE CHANGED CONSIDERABLY, WHILE IN SCOTLAND AND NORTHERN IRELAND THEY REMAIN THE SAME, EVEN THOUGH CIRCUMSTANCES HAVE CHANGED CONSIDERABLY.