Irish Catholic editor analyzes Northern Ireland’s fragile peace
September 20, 2010
Michael Kelly of The Irish Catholic has offered an analysis of the factors that are undermining Northern Ireland’s fragile peace.
“As politicians sought to sell the 1998 deal [the Good Friday Agreement] to the people of Northern Ireland they frequently invoked the so-called peace dividend, referring to the billions of euro investment that would come from Europe, the United States and, of course, the Irish and British governments,” notes Kelly. “The peace dividend has come and gone, and many peace-building projects now face serious shortfalls.”
Kelly also points to a think-tank report “claiming the region is suffering from ‘crippling levels’ of social collapse marked by joblessness, family breakdown, mental illness and drink and drug addiction.”
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Further information:
- Northern Ireland's fragile peace threatened by economic downturn (Our Sunday Visitor)
- Belfast Agreement (Good Friday Agreement) (Wikipedia)
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