If you’re running into a political dead end – any dead end – you’ve got to change the context that surrounds you.

Throughout Northern Ireland’s troubled decades of paramilitary violence and political deadlock John Hume certainly changed the context of the situation.

This is the view of Dr Maurice Hayes, fellow academics and former colleagues of the ex-SDLP leader who celebrate Hume’s career and contribution to Ireland with their book John Hume, Irish Peacemaker. The book was launched at Queen’s University Belfast earlier this week.

Growing up in Derry, Hume knew discrimination at first hand. His entry into politics during the 1960s was the product of happenings that occurred around him. His objective was to help bring an end to violence and promote shared governance between divided communities in Northern Ireland.

When politicians refused to talk, Hume did. When opposing nationalistic tribes did speak, they did so in different languages. To politics on the streets, to his speeches and articles in the Irish Times Hume brought a new way of communicating.

His politics encouraged respect and parity; his terminology was considered revolutionary then yet today is commonly spoken amongst Northern Ireland’s agreed if not fully reconciled political leaders.

Hume threw down the gauntlet to an abstentionist Irish nationalism and exclusionary unionism. With the coming together of European states at that time too, in the 1970s and ‘80s he encouraged the forging of broader, more inclusive identities.

What’s more, Hume persistently took risks for peace. He put his vision for peace ahead of his political party by engaging in secret talks with Gerry Adams of Sinn Féin. Perhaps he knew even then that he might have been sacrificing the SDLP’s position for an inclusive political settlement that could work.

Hume’s questioning of the direction of both nationalisms in Northern Ireland as well as his vision for a kind of post-nationalist, borderless Europe were revolutionary indeed.

Today Hume’s views are just as relevant given the numerous crises encountered by the European Union and the dangerous political language increasingly being employed throughout and beyond the continent.

During the conflict, contributor to Irish Peacemaker Marianne Elliot said Hume broke the mould. For Hume’s fellow SDLP founder Denis Haughey, speaking at the book launch, what makes a great man or woman is one who takes a great idea and persists with it despite all criticism and condemnation.

Hume, he said, long persevered with his great idea for better governance of Northern Ireland. He changed the context, the way decision-makers looked at the Northern Ireland problem.

He held true to his vision and principles. The tragedy was that so many others for so long were not prepared to listen.