The Belfast Project was an oral history project that was launched in 1995 by Boston College to collect the stories of people
The Belfast Project was an oral history project that was launched in 1995 by Boston College to collect the stories of people involved in the Troubles in Northern Ireland. The project was controversial from the start, and it ultimately ended in failure.
There are a number of reasons why the Belfast Project could be considered a failure. First, the project was not properly planned. The researchers did not have a clear idea of what they wanted to achieve, and they did not have a good understanding of the risks involved. This led to a number of problems, including the fact that some of the interviewees were later arrested and charged with crimes.
Second, the project was not transparent. The researchers did not disclose to the interviewees that the recordings could be used in court, and they did not obtain the interviewees’ consent to publish the recordings. This led to a loss of trust between the researchers and the interviewees, and it ultimately made it impossible to complete the project.
However, the Belfast Project could also be considered a success in some ways. The project collected a wealth of information about the Troubles, and this information has been used by historians, journalists, and policymakers to understand the conflict. The project also helped to promote reconciliation in Northern Ireland, as it gave people from different sides of the conflict a chance to share their stories.
Ultimately, whether the Belfast Project was a success or a failure is a matter of opinion. There are strong arguments to be made on both sides. Personally, I believe that the project was a failure, but I also believe that it was a valuable learning experience. The project showed the importance of planning and transparency in oral history projects, and it also showed the challenges of researching and writing about sensitive topics.
Here is a table summarizing the reasons why the Belfast Project could be considered a failure or a success:
Failure |
Success |
Lack of planning |
Collected a wealth of information |
Lack of transparency |
Promoted reconciliation |
Interviewees were arrested |
Gave people from different sides a chance to share their stories |
Recordings could be used in court |
Valuable learning experience |