Special Relationships: Britain, Ireland and the Northern Ireland Problem

Although recent events are testing its durability, the Good Friday Agreement of 1998 has been hailed as a triumph of Anglo-Irish diplomacy. But why did it take thirty years of intense conflict to reach an understanding of the problem before a solution could be implemented?In this book, centuries-old misperceptions between the two islands are scrutinised and recent seismic shifts examined, including the changing nature of Irish nationalism and the role of Irish-America in both shaping and resolving the conflict.This is a study by a distinguished observer, persuasively demonstrating how even the most intractable conflicts can be made more malleable. It will prove invaluable to readers interested in British and Irish politics, ethnic conflict and conflict transformation.