Negotiating a Settlement in Northern Ireland, 1969-2019

The Good Friday Agreement of 1998 ended a protracted violent conflict in Northern Ireland and became an international reference point for peace-building. Negotiating a Settlement in Northern Ireland, 1969–2019 traces the roots and out-workings of the Agreement, focusing on the British and Irish governments, their changing policy paradigms, and their extended negotiations. It identifies three dimensions of change that paved the way for agreement: in the evolution of elite understanding of sovereignty, the development of wide-ranging and complex modes of power-sharing, and the interrelated emergence of substantial equality in the socio-economic, cultural, and political domains.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 624 pages
Publication date: 27 April 2023
Publisher: Oxford University Press

The Good Friday Agreement of 1998 brought an end to a protracted and violent conflict in Northern Ireland, serving as a significant milestone in the pursuit of peace. Negotiating a Settlement in Northern Ireland, 1969-2019 delves into the origins and intricacies of the Agreement, focusing on the British and Irish governments, their shifting policy paradigms, and the extensive negotiations that took place from the Sunningdale conference in 1973 to the St Andrews Agreement in 2006. The book identifies three critical dimensions of change that paved the way for this historic accord: the evolution of elite understanding of sovereignty, the development of comprehensive and intricate modes of power-sharing, and the interconnected emergence of substantial equality in the socio-economic, cultural, and political realms. By combining extensive analysis with insightful witness seminars and interviews, the book offers a unique perspective, allowing the most senior British and Irish politicians, civil servants, and advisors to share their insights into the process of reaching agreement. Moreover, in tracing the processes by which British and Irish perspectives converged to address the Northern Ireland conflict, the book establishes a valuable benchmark against which the ongoing impact of Brexit on the Good Friday Agreement can be assessed. This comprehensive and insightful work provides a valuable contribution to our understanding of the complex dynamics that shaped the Agreement and its enduring significance in the pursuit of peace and stability in Northern Ireland.

Weight: 926g
Dimension: 154 x 235 x 37 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780198882824