This is an update of the popular and successful book offering a comprehensive and balanced examination of both the history of the 'Troubles'; the peace process and contemporary political situation. Features:
- Good Friday Agreement and the 'yes' votes in referendums
- new political institutions in Northern Ireland
- party system: ethnic politics or gradual thawing?
- new climate of peace: paramilitary ceasefires; cross-community co-operation; economic boom
- imperfections of the peace; the Real IRA and the Omagh atrocity; loyalist dissident paramilitary groups
- extent of change in republicanism; from revolutionaries to state participants
- slow emergence of new unionism
- problem of weapons decommissioning
- changes in policing
- persistence of sectarianism
The author places these events within an overall assessment of the extent of change in Northern Ireland politics and society. The book deals with the historical conflict in Northern Ireland and relates this to recent political agreements.
Jonathan Tonge is Professor of Politics and Director of the Centre for Irish Studies at the University of Salford.
