The Northern Ireland Question

The Troubles in Northern Ireland were brought to an end by a peace process now regarded as a template for conflict resolution. This book examines how the Belfast Agreement came about, what role Southern Ireland and the US had in it, its impact on unionism, nationalism, the paramilitaries, the balance of electoral support for local parties, and Northern Ireland's constitutional position. It also discusses what moral issues were raised by the Agreement, and whether it has laid the basis for lasting peace. This book provides a comprehensive assessment of the origins and political repercussions of the Northern Ireland peace process and the Belfast Agreement and considers the extent to which the Agreement may be considered an exercise in political cynicism or the basis of lasting peace in Ireland.