Discussion: British Irish Relations:
Other Discussion Topics: All Ireland Relations    Mutilation Beatings   
The Peace Agreement  Decommissioning of Arms

British Irish Relations:
The study of British Irish relations has developed apace during the past decades. The history of the peoples of the islands of the Atlantic Archipeligo has undergone major revisions and scrutiny by historians, social and political scientists and biographers, among others, who have challenged many certainties and myths of the past and, in particular, the many constructions of Irish history characterised by selective amnesia.

Concomitantly, the economies of Britain and Ireland have converged and become more integrated. New debates and discussions have surfaced in academia, in the media, and in both political and civil society around the concept of identities, national identity, nationalism, etc. The notion of a single Irish national identity has been contested and subjected to scrutiny by a range of individuals and disciplines.

Simon Partridge:
In this article Simon Partridge examines and contests many of the myths of British and Irish identities. He draws on empirical research from both England and Ireland to suggest that there is more commonality of interest between the peoples of these islands than many nationalist demagogues admit.

Pat Coyne
Pat Coyne takes a critical look at the concept of being Irish and what and who it includes and excludes. By looking at culture and literature, Coyne indicates how complex and selective the 'imagined community' of Irish may be. Who is included and why? What is excluded and why?

Bert Ward
Bert Ward discusses the issue of historic discrimination in Northern Ireland in the context of the successive British Governments (Labour and Conservative) that allowed that discrimination to develop and hold sway.He looks for answers in the structure and ideology of the main parties of UK politics. This leads Bert Ward to challenging the UK Labour Party to allow Northern Ireland citizens  to become individual members of the Labour Party.