The issue of Catholic discrimination in Northern Ireland has been debated by theorists, Hewitt and O’Hearn. Both theorists argue over the importance of Catholic discrimination as a factor of the Northern Ireland conflict. Hewitt (1985) argues against the conventional view supported by O’Hearn (1987) which claims Catholic discrimination (housing, voting and employment) led to the Northern Ireland conflict is wrong and instead the violence was caused by Irish nationalism. O’Hearn argues Catholic claims of discrimination were accurate. O’ Hearn rejects Hewitt’s claim that nationalism was a much stronger force in the Catholic population. O’Hearn’s research is adamant on proving discrimination was widespread in northern Irish and British policy. Hewitt understands there is a general agreement on Catholic discrimination. He isolates the issue of gerrymandering, to see if it was undemocratic and if it affected employment and housing.
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