A Referendum on Irish Unification: Why it Needs Attention
| DOI | 10.1177/20419058211022933 |
| Author | Alan Renwick,Katy Hayward |
| Date | 01 June 2021 |
| Published date | 01 June 2021 |
16 POLITICAL INSIGHT • JUNE 2021
A
referendum on Irish
unification, a so-called ‘border
poll’, could happen in the
coming years. The government
in London does not want one, and its
Dublin counterpart is decidedly lukewarm.
But they may have little choice. Under the
terms of Good Friday Agreement of 1998
– the deal that brought peace to Northern
Ireland after 30 years of violence – the
Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
must call a referendum if they believe a
majority for unification is likely.
That condition is not currently met:
opinion polls and election results suggest
that the majority would still support the
A Referendum on
Irish Unification: Why
it Needs Attention
As calls for a ‘border poll’ on Irish unity grow, Alan Renwick and
Katy Hayward report on new research on the politics and practicalities
of any future referendum on both sides of the border.
Union. This situation might continue,
but equally, it might not. Since the UK’s
decision to leave the EU in 2016, the
question of Northern Ireland’s status
within the Union has risen up the
political agenda. The Irish border, whose
significance had been declining for two
decades, has gained renewed meaning
and potency. Some evidence suggests
increased support for a united Ireland,
though this seems to be mainly among
previously ‘soft’ nationalists rather than
from disillusioned unionists or others.
© Paul McErlane / Alamy Stock Photo
Political Insight June 2021 BU.indd 16Political Insight June 2021 BU.indd 16 12/05/2021 15:3312/05/2021 15:33
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