From the Troubles to Today: A Look at the Ongoing Conflict in Northern Ireland

Editors: Jannis Gesemann & Leire Lopez de Goicoechea

Fueled by enduring animosities rooted in different positions between Catholics and Protestants regarding British rule, the conflict in Northern Ireland instigated acts of guerrilla warfare, often pitting individuals against their own neighbours. For decades, Northern Ireland was synonymous with the Troubles, a violent conflict that raged from the late 1960s to the late 1990s, claiming thousands of lives and dividing communities along religious and political lines. The Good Friday Agreement of 1998 brought a fragile peace, but the underlying issues of identity, nationalism, and reconciliation remain unresolved. In recent years, the Brexit process has rekindled tensions, as the prospect of a hard border between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland threatens to upend the delicate balance. As Northern Ireland navigates the challenges of the post-Troubles era, the hope remains that sustained efforts toward dialogue, understanding, and inclusivity can pave the way for a more harmonious and united future. However, the unresolved issues and potential ramifications of Brexit continue to test the resilience of peace in the region, making it imperative to prioritise diplomacy and cooperation in order to avoid a resurgence of conflict.

The Troubles: Origins and Historical Context

Northern Ireland’s Troubles, have a long history entwined with religion, race, and politics - seeds planted decades ago when British Protestants first ruled Ireland’s native Catholic people. However, the island was not divided until the early 1920s, following a successful campaign for Irish independence. The Republic of Ireland would eventually inhabit the majority of the island, but six counties in the northeast remained part of the United Kingdom (UK) and were named Northern Ireland. British Protestants made up the bulk of Northern Ireland’s population and held the majority of the region’s political authority. Meanwhile, the Republic of Ireland was at that time and remains mostly Catholic. In the 1960s, Northern Ireland’s Catholic minority faced inequality in housing and employment, leading to a civil rights movement. The police, mainly Protestant, responded with violence, and the British military was deployed to quell the unrest. These events ignited a long-standing conflict. The division went beyond religious and cultural differences, as Catholics sought Irish unity, while Protestants staunchly opposed leaving the UK. Terrorism emerged as extremist factions from both communities conducted bombings, assassinations, and paramilitary activities. The violence persisted for three decades, affecting not only Northern Ireland but also the Republic of Ireland and England (Roos, 2021). However, by the 1990s, there were signs of change. The Irish Republican Army (IRA), a paramilitary group advocating for Irish reunification through force, started considering a shift away from violence. Many members sought to pursue their goals through political means and engage with the system. In 1994, the IRA declared a ceasefire, boosted  by pro-British paramilitaries. Subsequently, peace talks began with the support of the British and Irish governments.

The Good Friday Agreement: A Fragile Peace

On April 10, 1998, the Republic of Ireland, Britain, and most Northern Irish political parties provided a framework for a political settlement in Northern Ireland centred on power-sharing between unionists and nationalists. It made Northern Ireland a devolved state that, while remaining part of the UK, would have its own legislature and executive. Though the Troubles officially ended with the Good Friday Agreement, Northern Ireland’s political woes were far from over. In 2002, Britain suspended Northern Ireland’s power-sharing Assembly in response to renewed violence and political upheaval (Blevins & Keay, n.d.). Even though the Good Friday Agreement managed to put an end to violence, it didn’t bring peace. Despite its positive impact, the peace in Northern Ireland remains fragile. There have been periods of relative calm, but tensions still exist, and the political landscape can be volatile. Issues such as flags and emblems, parades, and dealing with the legacy of the conflict continue to be sources of contention.

The Northern Ireland Protocol

The Protocol sets out Northern Ireland’s post-Brexit relationship with both the European Union (EU) and Great Britain. It became effective on January 1, 2021. The convention guarantees that products travelling between Northern Ireland and Ireland (and the rest of the EU) are not subject to inspection. It does this by applying the EU’s Single Market rules for goods to Northern Ireland, as well as the EU’s customs rules. This means that goods coming into Northern Ireland from Great Britain must be checked and/or have paperwork to show they comply with the EU regulations.

The Protocol is part of the EU-UK Withdrawal Agreement, an international treaty between the EU and the UK that sets out how the UK’s exit from the EU would work. This is separate from the Trade and Cooperation Agreement (TCA), which is the agreement that governs trade and other cooperation between the EU and the UK. The absence of a functional government in the region adds a significant hurdle to the existing challenges surrounding the Windsor Framework and the Northern Ireland Protocol. Without a governing body in place, decision-making becomes more cumbersome, and the implementation of necessary measures becomes increasingly difficult.

Remaining Issues 

According to the protocol agreed upon by prime minister Joris Bohnsonat that time, Northern Ireland is now included in the EU’s single market for goods. This means that although there is an open trade border on the island of Ireland, a practical border has been created at sea. As a result, goods coming into Northern Ireland from other parts of the UK are now subject to checks and controls (Curtis, n.d.). When the Protocol was agreed upon, Northern Ireland’s unionist parties, especially the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP), opposed it, claiming that it jeopardised both the union between Northern Ireland and Great Britain and the geographical integrity of the UK. Additionally, they claim it imperils the Good Friday Agreement and the idea that decisions should involve all communities. The non-aligned Alliance Party and the nationalist Sinn Féin and Social Democratic and Labour Party (SDLP) support the Protocol, arguing that by guaranteeing an open border between Northern Ireland and Ireland, it upholds the Good Friday Agreement (Edgington & Kovacevic, 2023). Howsoever, the Protocol’s implementation has run into some problems. The implementation has encountered various difficulties, due to the required customs checks and border controls, leading to trade disruptions, as well as tensions arising from divergent interpretations and adherence to the protocol between the EU and the UK.

In a significant development on February 27, 2023, Prime Minister of the UK, Rishi Sunak, and President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, jointly announced the introduction of a groundbreaking agreement known as the Windsor Framework. It presents a solution that enables Northern Ireland to maintain its membership in the EU’s single market and customs union while reducing the extensive checks on goods from mainland Britain that were initially mandated by the original Brexit agreement. This agreement brings about substantial changes to the functioning of the Northern Ireland Protocol, marking a crucial turning point in the ongoing discussions surrounding the protocol's operations. However, it remains to be seen whether the Windsor Framework will effectively address the existing challenges and bring about tangible improvements to the situation.

Conclusion

Reflecting on the ongoing conflict in Northern Ireland, from the Troubles to the present day, it becomes apparent that its unresolved issue of either remaining part of the UK or joining Ireland persists. Additionally, the absence of a functional government further compounds the challenges. The lack of political leadership and decision-making hampers the efficient resolution of issues, further complicating trade disruptions, customs checks, border controls, and disagreements over protocol interpretation and compliance between the EU and the UK. The relentless political struggle between differing visions for Northern Ireland continues unabated, frequently leading to the breakdown of the delicate power-sharing arrangement established by the Good Friday Agreement. Within a deeply divided society, the question arises as to whether the existing agreements need further revision to address the current political impasse.

References

Syal, R. (2023, February 26). Northern Ireland protocol: what are the issues and what could change? The Guardian. Retrieved May 29, 2023, from https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2023/feb/26/northern-ireland-protocol-what-are-the-issues-and-what-could-change

Curtis, J. (n.d.). Northern Ireland Protocol - House of Commons Library. The House of Commons Library. Retrieved May 29, 2023, from https://commonslibrary.parliament.uk/research-briefings/cbp-9548/

Roos, D. (2021, November 12). How the Troubles Began in Northern Ireland | HISTORY. https://www.history.com/news/the-troubles-northern-ireland

Edgington, T., & Kovacevic, T. (2023, April 12). Brexit: What are the Northern Ireland Protocol and Windsor Framework? BBC. Retrieved June 6, 2023, from https://www.bbc.com/news/explainers-53724381

Blevins, D., & Keay, L. (n.d.). The Good Friday Agreement 25 years on How it led to peace, hope, and paralysis | UK News. Sky News. Retrieved June 6, 2023, from https://news.sky.com/story/the-good-friday-agreement-25-years-on-peace-hope-and-paralysis-12851185