don't celebrate too soon

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Fortnight Publications Ltd. Don't celebrate too soon Author(s): Tony Kennedy Source: Fortnight, No. 460 (JULY/AUGUST 2008), pp. 10-11 Published by: Fortnight Publications Ltd. Stable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/25704141 . Accessed: 28/06/2014 12:34 Your use of the JSTOR archive indicates your acceptance of the Terms & Conditions of Use, available at . http://www.jstor.org/page/info/about/policies/terms.jsp . JSTOR is a not-for-profit service that helps scholars, researchers, and students discover, use, and build upon a wide range of content in a trusted digital archive. We use information technology and tools to increase productivity and facilitate new forms of scholarship. For more information about JSTOR, please contact [email protected]. . Fortnight Publications Ltd. is collaborating with JSTOR to digitize, preserve and extend access to Fortnight. http://www.jstor.org This content downloaded from 91.220.202.49 on Sat, 28 Jun 2014 12:34:09 PM All use subject to JSTOR Terms and Conditions

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Page 1: Don't celebrate too soon

Fortnight Publications Ltd.

Don't celebrate too soonAuthor(s): Tony KennedySource: Fortnight, No. 460 (JULY/AUGUST 2008), pp. 10-11Published by: Fortnight Publications Ltd.Stable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/25704141 .

Accessed: 28/06/2014 12:34

Your use of the JSTOR archive indicates your acceptance of the Terms & Conditions of Use, available at .http://www.jstor.org/page/info/about/policies/terms.jsp

.JSTOR is a not-for-profit service that helps scholars, researchers, and students discover, use, and build upon a wide range ofcontent in a trusted digital archive. We use information technology and tools to increase productivity and facilitate new formsof scholarship. For more information about JSTOR, please contact [email protected].

.

Fortnight Publications Ltd. is collaborating with JSTOR to digitize, preserve and extend access to Fortnight.

http://www.jstor.org

This content downloaded from 91.220.202.49 on Sat, 28 Jun 2014 12:34:09 PMAll use subject to JSTOR Terms and Conditions

Page 2: Don't celebrate too soon

Don't celebrate too soon

Tony Kennedy of Co-operation Ireland argues that the 10th anniversary of the Agreement is a time to confront the remaining challenges facing Northern Ireland society and North-South relations

^ ^uch has been said and

JLVJL written over the last couple of months to reflect upon the

significance of the Belfast Agreement now that we have reached its 10th

anniversary. There is no doubt that that

Agreement was a

significant

development in Northern Ireland

political history and will rightfully be recorded as such. But it is more

important now to confront the

remaining challenges facing community relations in Northern

Ireland and across the island as a whole.

A key first step is to acknowledge that

many challenges remain in terms of Northern Ireland politics, East-West

and North-South relations and that these need to be met with a clear agenda and rationale.

Co-operation Ireland shared in the

euphoria that surrounded the Belfast

Agreement in 1998. This was based

upon the huge hopes we all had for Northern Ireland and the potential for

peace, prosperity and improved relations between the two communities,

between north and south and east and

west. The ceasefires, decreased

unemployment, the improved image of

Belfast, as in the new Victoria Shopping Centre, are all testimony to the

achievements in relation to peace and

prosperity. The absence of violence and

the images of co-operation between

Northern Ireland's former First

Minister, Dr Ian Paisley, and Deputy First Minister, Martin McGuinness,

have done much to enhance the image of Northern Ireland abroad. The Northern Ireland economy is beginning to see the benefits of the Celtic Tiger and the Republic also continues to benefit from the peace process. No-one

wants to emphasise the problems that

still exist. However, for the future

generations on this island it is essential to emphasise that relations between the

two communities in Northern Ireland

and between north and south have a

long way to go. Bertie Ahern recently described the

prevalence of sectarianism in Northern

Ireland as an affront' to the fulfilment of a peaceful and democratic society there. The continued segregation and

the lack of trust and understanding

between the peoples on the island also

pose dangers to stability and harmony. A future free from violence, based on

tolerance, trust and a respect for

diversity cannot be assured in these

circumstances.

One of the most significant questions facing politicians and leaders both in Northern Ireland and the Republic is the kind of future society we wish to strive for in Northern Ireland. Is economic improvement the limit of our

ambitions for Northern Ireland? The Troubles left many socio-economic

problems and these need to be addressed. But undoing the impact of the conflict on community relations

must also be a priority. Any post conflict society like Northern Ireland must develop and implement strategies to overcome poor community relations,

continued segregation and remaining 'low-level' violence. Full-scale ethnic

This content downloaded from 91.220.202.49 on Sat, 28 Jun 2014 12:34:09 PMAll use subject to JSTOR Terms and Conditions

Page 3: Don't celebrate too soon

conflict may be avoided in the future. But a failure to improve community relations will leave peace in Northern Ireland under threat from recurring communal unrest particularly at

interface areas.

The extensive segregation of the two main communities in Northern

Ireland, which intensified over the course of the Troubles, has reinforced the causes of the conflict.

Will the various stakeholders be satisfied with increased political

and economic co-operation in the absence of mutual

understanding and friendship?

Recent surveys by Shirlow and

Murtagh demonstrate the high levels of

segregated use of both public and

private services and ̂ facilities in Northern Ireland. This is underlined by continual segregation in housing and education. Last years report by Deloitte on the financial cost of the Northern Ireland divide estimated this 'dual

society' is costing about ?1.5 billion. The increased number of peace-walls' across Northern Ireland - the latest

figures are 46 peace lines' and 11

gates' - and the persistence of tensions

at interface areas in Belfast demonstrate

the slow pace at which community relations are improving. Those working at interface areas know the challenges that exist there and that the coming summer months are likely to intensify. The voluntary and community sectors have in the past shouldered the

responsibility for cross-community and north-south activities aimed at

breaking down misunderstandings, fears and sectarianism. It is now

essential that governments recognise the more comprehensive role that they

must play. As with cross-community work in

Northern Ireland, North-South contacts over the years have generally been delivered by the voluntary and

community sectors. This work has concentrated on building relationships, mutual understanding and

contributing to reconciliation on the island. Now that both governments have started to work more effectively

together North-South co-operation is

beginning to flourish in the political, economic and business realms. Many

government departments and agencies, like many businesses, are at last

discovering that North-South practical co-operation can be of mutual benefit.

North-South contacts in the past were centred on reconciliation and

relationship-building across the island. This was based upon the recognition that the bad feelings that existed between the people north and south were central to the conflict in Northern Ireland. The peace process has begun to resolve this relationship. But the current state of community relations in Northern Ireland and in north-south

grassroots relationships obliges both

governments and all those involved to ensure that the framework for North South co-operation continues to

concentrate on fulfilling the goals of

reconciliation, mutual understanding and relationship-building at all levels.

Will the various stakeholders be satisfied with increased political and economic co-operation in the absence

of mutual understanding and

friendship? There is no doubt that co

operation for mutual benefit at these levels can improve relationships. But it cannot always impact on relationships at grassroots, community levels where

this is most needed. Contact for reconciliation has always been the most

pressing rationale for North-South co

operation and must remain so. Like

segregation and division within Northern Ireland, separation and division between the communities

across the island is also contrary to the social and economic well-being of the entire island. Failure to bridge the gap in

understanding and tolerance at a

grassroots level between people, north and south, will, in the long term, undermine the development of relations between the two states, even if relations

at a political level appear friendly and constructive.

There is much to be positive about -

the operation of the Northern Ireland

Assembly, the North-South Institutions, the development of good relations at

political level between Northern Ireland and the Republic and between Ireland and the United Kingdom. The realisation of peace in Northern Ireland is undoubtedly the most positive development there in decades. But we must caution against complacency

particularly with regards to community relations, sectarianism and interface

tensions in Northern Ireland. Over

concentration on mutual benefit of an

economic kind in developing the North-South agenda is also a problem for truly fulfilling reconciliation on the island. The legacy of any settlement in

Northern Ireland will ultimately be assessed for its impact on relations between the communities across the

island and not just those which exist at

political elite levels This is where the future challenge rests. The 10th

anniversary of the Agreement must not

just be about judging past achievements or failures, but rather about recognising and planning to meet this unrelenting challenge. | Tony Kennedy is CEO of Co-operation Ireland

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FORTNIGHT JULY/AUGUST 2008 I I

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