The "Troubles" in Northern Ireland have endured for so long that eventually the abnormal has become normal. This volume examines the processes by which society has become gradually dehumanised, and how the inhuman conditions, under which people have been forced to live so long, have come about.

Foreword -- Introduction -- Politics, violence, and the management of conflict in Northern Ireland -- A framework for understanding troubled relations: the work of Klein and object relations theorists -- Object relations theory and the conflict in Northern Ireland -- Working with individuals affected by the Troubles -- Working with groups affected by the Troubles -- Responding to the violence of the Troubles: the role of professionals and other care-givers -- Conclusion: the way forward