Northern Ireland

"Peace is not only better than war, but infinitely more arduous" - George Bernard Shaw Provides a detailed analysis of the attempts to create a lasting peace in Northern Ireland. Explores the issues behind the longevity of the conflict. . Includes coverage of the Good Friday Agreement. Combines coverage of the historical context of the situation in Northern Ireland with a thorough examination of the contemporary political situation and the peace process. The book explores the issues behind the longevity of the conflict and provides a detailed analysis of the attempts to create a lasting peace in Northern Ireland. The author includes coverage of the Good Friday Agreement and the subsequent bumpy peace process, as well as, the 'yes' votes in referendums on the Good Friday Agreement in Northern Ireland and the Irish Republic. He explores the new climate of peace and the agendas of the Ulster Unionists and Sinn Fein, both now campaigning for the same outcome, the awarding of the Nobel peace prize to Trimble and Hume and the economic boom in Northern Ireland. The book includes details of the changes in Sinn Fein's constitution, the European elections, the Pattern Commission report on the future of the Royal Ulster Constabulary. There is an assessment of the imperfect nature of the 'peace', the 'Real IRA', the Omagh atrocity, Portadown and punishment shootings and beatings. There is also coverage of the collapse of the peace process over the decommissioning issue in the summer of 1999 and the subsequent attempts to save it.

Jonathan Tonge is at the University of Salford.