Brexit Troubles – is Northern Ireland’s peace at risk?
The Northern Ireland conflict lasted for nearly 30 years, and left over 3,600 dead. The Good Friday Agreement ended the violence. Is it possible that Brexit could lead to renewed tensions in Northern Ireland, or even a future Irish reunification?
Utökad information om evenemangetToday’s border between Northern Ireland and Ireland is invisible, but when the UK leaves the EU it will probably also leave the single European market and customs union. This would entail the establishment of a hard border between the EU and Northern Ireland. The scenario has led to fear of renewed hostilities. In the Brexit negotiation process, avoiding a hard border is instrumental. Few people wish to have a militarized zone that separates Ireland again. The peace agreement that ended “The Troubles” was reached by the British and Irish governments and most of the political parties in Northern Ireland. It established a system of power-sharing, and it was agreed that Northern Ireland can be part of a unified Ireland if the majority votes in favour of reunification in public referendums on both sides. Listen to experiences from the Good Friday Agreement negotiations, and an analysis of how Brexit will affect the future.
- Bronagh Hinds, co-founder of Northern Ireland Women’s Coalition
- Dr Matthew Whiting, University of Birmingham
- Daniel Keohane, head of policy and advocacy, European Movement Ireland
- Katrine Marçal, moderator, author and writer