The Peoples Peace Process in Northern Ireland

Many important lessons have come out of the negotiations for the Belfast Agreement. This book explains how public opinion polls were used in support of the Northern Ireland peace process. Significantly, it was the politicians who decided the questions so that they could map out areas of compromise and common ground that their supporters would accept. This book explains how the work was done so that others can apply the benefits of this experience to their own peace building activities.

'I recommend this book to all those involved with peacemaking and peacebuilding, political negotiations and public opinion polls, as well as those with a particular interest in Northern Ireland. Dr Irwin worked closely with the Northern Ireland political parties during the final critical years of the Stormont Talks and my Review and I am persuaded that the unique approach he developed of running public opinion polls in cooperation with party negotiators contributed significantly to the successful outcome of our efforts.' - Senator George J.Mitchell

Autorentext
COLIN IRWIN is a Research Fellow at the Institute of Irish Studies, Queen's University, Belfast and was the principle investigator on the project Peace Building and Public Policy in Northern Ireland funded by the Joseph Rowntree Charitable Trust. Most recently, as part of the Northern Ireland Peace Process, he conducted seven public opinion polls in collaboration with the political parties elected to take part in the Stormont Talks.

Inhalt
List of Figures List of Tables Preface Acknowledgements Glossary and Abbreviations Introduction PART I: PUBLIC OPINION POLLS AND PEACE PROCESSES Political Negotiations and Public Opinion Polls The Calculus of Agreement The Drafting of Consensus and the Decommissioning Story Polling as Peace Building PART II: THE NORTHERN IRELAND PEACE POLLS Peace Building and Public Policy After the Elections The Stormont Talks In Search of a Settlement A Comprehensive Settlement Implementation of the Belfast Agreement The Mitchell Review The Future of the Peace Process Conclusion Appendix: Sample Questionnaire Notes References Selected Bibliography Index