For Irish nationalists, reunification seems to be now within reach.
Dublin, Monday,
A vicious flare-up of renewed rioting in Northern Ireland has highlighted how Brexit has increased tensions between the two communities present there. On 29 March, in an area of Northern Ireland that is determinedly loyalist, violence flared involving gangs of youths armed with iron bars, bricks, masonry and petrol bombs. Following this, civil unrest spread to Newtown Abbey on 3 April, where cars were hijacked and burnt and petrol bombs were also used against police. The fresh outbreak of social conflict could have far-reaching implications for the future of the United Kingdom and post-Brexit relations with the EU.
Unionist leaders have linked the violence to simmering loyalist anger over the Irish Sea border imposed as a result of the UK-EU Brexit deal. The new trading border is the result of the Northern Ireland Protocol, introduced to avoid the need for a hard border on the island of Ireland. However, the Unionists say that the protocol damages trade and threatens Northern Ireland's place in the UK.
Four paths to a new Ireland
In a dramatic intervention, a team of academics at London's prestigious University College outlined four options for the future.
• Soft reunification. Devolved institutions would remain in Northern Ireland but with sovereignty switched from London to Dublin.
• A single central legislature. Since this is likely to be in Dublin, Northern Irish loyalists would probably see this as a hostile takeover.
• A federal state. This model "would avoid some of the governance complications of lopsided devolution. But a two-unit federation would be imbalanced," says UCL.
• A confederation of just two states: Northern Ireland and Eire.
In a confederation, there is a more or less permanent union with some or most political power vested in a central authority. UCL found this "would less clearly meet the prescription of unity laid down by the 1998 agreement"…
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