Fear, force, and flight: configurations of intimidation and displacement in Northern Ireland’s ‘Troubles’

While the presence and intensity of armed conflict is often understood as logical axiomatic causal factor flight, this article offers a more in-depth understanding myriad circumstances factors that shape forced displacement from homes communities. Based on extensive field research, schematically aggregates in Northern Ireland’s ‘Troubles’ into three broad categories; 1. Direct intimidation 2. Indirect 3. Mutual Arbitration. ‘extraordinary’ violence burning homes, smouldering streets, mass population movements came to symbolise something an archetypal form Ireland, majority movement during were product tedious though no less effective forms ‘everyday’ threats. For many, decision flee was culmination months sometimes years enduring variety monotonous attacks intimidation. turn towards rational choice within recent refugee approaches seeks shift emphasis predominant narratives disempowerment victimhood, nevertheless, research presented here underscores primacy fear common determinants movement. The communication those threats, demonstrates, many complexions.