In our Northern Roots series, we speak to readers originally from Northern Ireland but currently living elsewhere, or vice versa – or who’ve spent time away from NI. This week’s interviewee is Neil Nory Kaplan-Kelly, who is originally from New York in the USA, before moving to Belfast conduct field research as part of his studies.

 

1. Tell us about yourself. When did you come to Northern Ireland and where did you come from? What brought you here? What do you do now?

I grew up in Poughkeepsie, New York and moved to Chicago for university. I was initially interested in going to law school but found a calling in legal and political anthropology. After I graduated, I knew I wanted to study different political systems. I then worked for an Alderman (city council member) on the south side of Chicago before I moved to Belfast the first time.

I came to Belfast having received a Fulbright scholarship to get an M.A. in Legislative Studies and Practice at Queen’s University. The Fulbright grant was a life-changing experience. I fell in love with Northern Ireland and became committed to coming back after my degree to study further.

In the fall of 2016, I started a PhD in Anthropology at the University of California, Irvine. After completing my coursework and passing my qualifying exams, I am now a PhD candidate and I am back in Belfast conducting field research for my dissertation. Currently, I’m interested in how different political parties contribute to peace-making while also responding to social change and a lack of typical legal institutions. Put simply, I’m interested in how lawmakers build peace while Brexit is happening and Stormont is in stalemate. What this means in practice is that you’ll see me hanging out at Belfast City Council, different events, protests, and trying to learn as much as I can from anyone and everyone involved in politics here.

 

2. What do you think of Northern Ireland, and how does it compare to where you are from?

It’s almost embarrassing how much I love Northern Ireland. I recently did one of those Facebook/meme challenge things where your “presidential campaign slogan” is your last name, 2020, and then the last thing you texted. My result was “Kaplan-Kelly 2020: Did you see what happened in Northern Ireland???”

As an anthropologist, I consider comparisons to be a way to understand difference rather than to quantify or rank differences – when I say I love Northern Ireland, that does not mean that I love it more than the US or any other place. That being said, Northern Ireland is fascinating, confusing, exciting, demanding, conflicting, inspiring, fun, and, ultimately, a special place for me. It is such a pleasure to study here, even when I have no idea what is going on or what a certain word means.

 

3. Are you hopeful for Northern Ireland’s future? Does Brexit have any impact on you and how you view the future?

I am hopeful for Northern Ireland’s future. I think there are so many people who have so much love for this place (even if it’s a Ma Mary from Derry Girls type of exasperated, amused, yet fiercely loyal kind of love). I think it’s very important to remember that Northern Ireland has come so far in such a short period of time and that this change has been monumental and transformational on social and legal levels. It’s important to also remember that 20 years is a very short time and that any transition requires patience, especially when these changes are so personal and so meaningful.

I never intended to study Brexit, but it has become a key focus for my dissertation. I am very concerned about the divisions that Brexit has built between people and the complex logistical challenges it has created. However, Brexit has also shown how committed people have become to maintaining some form of stability within Northern Irish politics. Even if power-sharing is not in operation, the fact that it is desired and normalized in this current political moment is particularly interesting for me.

 

4. Do you think you will return home or do you plan to stay in Northern Ireland long term? Is there anything that may influence your decision either way?

As much as I love Belfast, I do plan on returning to the US. My family is in the States and I need them. My cats are also there (don’t worry, they’re being well cared for!) and a trip across the Atlantic is not for them. I hope to become a professor of anthropology at a university in the US.

However, I am never going to abandon Northern Ireland. It is my dream to lead study-trips, exchange seminars, consultations, and other international trips to teach students about Northern Ireland and its history and politics. My job is to teach people how to think differently about the world by exposing them to other cultures and experiences. Northern Ireland is a great place to do that and I’m making a lifelong commitment to that goal.

 

5. What can Northern Ireland learn from your home country?

I think there has been a lot of US intervention/conversation in Northern Ireland so there’s been a lot of exchange there. I know a lot of people in Northern Ireland like the American Cheez-It cracker snack and I have to bring a lot of them with me as gifts. Basically, NI needs to start importing them so I can pack more books!

 

6. If Northern Ireland had a president with sweeping powers, and it was you, what would you do?

Besides my international trade deal around Cheez-Its, I would make more investment in community libraries. Literacy and community-building are essential parts of society and I think that there needs to be more local spaces for people to access knowledge and be together. Reading matters. Libraries have books (and discussions and Wi-Fi and story time and classes).

 7. What would you like to see more of on Northern Slant?

I think this is a great site and has a lot of really interesting content so it’s all good for me! Though I never say no to pictures of puppy-dogs!

 

8.  If you could ask three politicians (one from Northern Ireland) out to dinner, who would they be and why?

This is probably the hardest question that people ask me. It is a true shame that John Hume is unwell. I have so many questions for him and would love to hear his opinion about the state of things today.

Similarly, Anna Lo’s retirement has been a loss of a very important voice in NI politics. The other hard thing about this question is that I can’t decide between picking my friends (who are always good fun) or picking people for research (who could also be good fun).

This is also one of those questions where people might judge your taste. So, perhaps I’m playing it safe but here we go: Naomi Long, Claire Hanna, and Doug Beattie would be a great conversation from a research perspective. Since these three are often on TV together, it’s like I have dinner with them all the time. On all other layers of this question (and my own ability to count), I plead the fifth.

 

9. Do you have a favourite quote or mantra? 

Anna Deavere Smith, the playwright and actress (known for being on The West Wing) once wrote:

“I want to look at not just what you leave behind but how you push people forward before you leave.”

This quote has followed me for over a decade and it always comes to mind when I need it. I hope others can also take on her message.

 

10. What’s your message for people back home?

Just because I’m not there doesn’t mean you can start changing the constitution! (Same goes for you, NI!)