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Top-down peace-making

The Hidden Costs of Unification

    There is strong support for unification of North and South in the Republic of Ireland, and Brexit has caused a resurgence of interest in the topic in the North. However, historical examples of unification have shown that the process can be challenging, creating new divides in the process of bridging old ones. The 1990 reunification of Germany has caused economic and social issues which continue to shape life in Germany today. Analysts project similar problems in a unified Ireland, encouraging politicians and citizens alike to question the peacebuilding potential of unification.
    Analysis

    Twenty-Five Years of the Good Friday Agreement and the Challenges of Grassroots Peacebuilding

      2023 marks the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement, but how much has changed in Northern Ireland? Grassroots or bottom-up peacebuilding efforts have proven to be effective in easing tensions in the region, but they themselves are subject to the pressures of funding and the maintenance of borders. This entry outlines the structure and terms of the Good Friday Agreement, giving the reader a comprehensive understanding of this momentous peace treaty, while also examining some of the challenges faced by grassroots peacebuilding operations in the region, as identified by Nicola Browne.

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