Northern Ireland ten years after the Good Friday Agreement: a Northern Ireland Foundation workshop at Liberal International Congress
by Allan LEONARD
17 May 2008
As part of the Liberal International Congress events, the Northern Ireland Foundation led a workshop at the Europa Hotel on Saturday, 17 May. The topic was “Northern Ireland ten years after the Good Friday Agreement”. The discussion was chaired by the foundation’s managing director, Allan Leonard, who was accompanied by colleagues Quintin Oliver (Secretariat) and Anne Carr.
Allan Leonard set out the context in which the Northern Ireland Foundation sees the current social and political situation in Northern Ireland. He said much has improved since the ceasefires in 1994. Indeed, some aspects of the peace process may be helpful for those dealing with other conflict situations.
But he was just as quick to emphasise that particular circumstances assisted Northern Ireland’s process and that building upon the peace has only begun. He wanted to hear from the audience their experiences of dealing with societal divisions in their home countries, as he believed Northern Ireland has much to learn from elsewhere.
Quintin Oliver described the importance of civil society during the peace process. Yet he also warned about the simplistic notion of exporting Northern Ireland’s experience, noting that the current form of power-sharing government is not effective and has yet to be proven durable.
Anne Carr drew from her practical experience of helping individuals and groups in Northern Ireland. She told of her mixed marriage experience, her role in establishing and promoting integrated education, and work with Women Together for Peace. She emphasised the importance of building civil society through dialogue, to prepare people for the hard compromises that would come from any political agreement.
Discussion
Leonard then invited audience members to provide their thoughts and experiences, whether what was said so far resonated with them.
A delegate from Holland described how the debate on new arrivals replaced its traditional division based on religion. This issue was repeated by a representative from Sweden, underlining its aspect of taking in a large number of Iraqis.
The same delegate described the importance of creating a common project (in society) and the danger of “living our history, not our future”.
A delegate from Macedonia said how the Northern Ireland situation can look relatively petty to those in Macedonia, his home country, where there are several deep divisions, based on language, ethnic origin, and religions (not merely denominations). He explained how the theme of human rights was used in Macedonia to segregate society by the establishment of separate schools to cater to mother tongue languages. He added that political groupings in Macedonia are based on the exclusiveness of their appeal.
A delegate from the Alliance Party asked how to realise integration without imposing it, which would violate Liberal principles. This point resonated when a British Liberal Democrat delegate reflected on the relative integration achieved in Yugoslavia under the reign of Tito.
Sarah Wong (Executive Director, IFLY) argued that Canada had the advantage of a lack of ethnic history, yet recognised the need for multicultural dialogue. She also claimed that you could not have a shared identity without self-value, i.e. respect for the individual was as vital as any for society as a whole. She also stated her objection to the word “tolerance”, as it can be used to retreat into one’s own group.
Another Canadian delegate from the region of Quebec described the role of the Irish immigrants in removing/undermining the confessional nature of early Canadian identity. Beforehand, a prominent division was between Catholic-French and Anglo-Protestants. The influx of English-speaking Catholics removed its saliency.
For this delegate, social cohesion is achieved on the basis of equality of rights and the application of affirmative action (for minorities).
A current issue in Canada is the influx of French-speaking Muslims (mainly from North Africa) into Quebec. For example, in Ontario, it was mooted to have Sharia law applied to marriages. Leonard replied that this issue was raised in the United Kingdom — by no less than the Archbishop of the Church of England — and it was resoundingly quashed by politicians across the spectrum, who made the argument that there could only be one code of law applied to the land.
The delegate later argued that good governance makes it possible for someone from a minority group to become Prime Minister, as in Canada. She said that this makes it harder for someone to play the victim card.
A delegate from Slovenia described the country’s bilingual policy, in respect to its Italian community. The education system is segregated, but all learn each other’s language. From him, social cohesion was a matter of citizenship.
He also gave the example of the Bosnia-Herzegovina experience to clear mines creating cooperation opportunities, such as sharing each other’s maps. Furthermore, the armed forces were able to be integrated because the matter of policing was dealt with.
A delegate from Taiwan described the importance of language rights and the practical experience of many in using the official Chinese language to officials, but using other languages in private. About the Europa Hotel, he asked why anyone would bomb it so many times. Leonard replied that the political violence reflected a war of attrition and that the peace process became possible partly by mutual recognition that no one would be able to declare complete victory. The delegate also asked what the final constitutional position of Northern Ireland is. Leonard answered that any change will be determined by a popular referendum; the Good Friday Agreement only established that this would be the only way of changing Northern Ireland’s constitutional status.
One of the Swedish delegates made an additional contribution, citing the experience of Barcelona, where a common interest project was the ambition to grow. She gave the example of where investment was made in open areas of Barcelona, e.g. theatres, which were then seen as shared spaces.
Her question was, how much confidence is there in Northern Ireland to look to the future?
Oliver replied with a fear that a two-speed society could develop in Northern Ireland: economic development bringing prosperity to many but not shared by disadvantaged communities.
Carr described how she saw reconciliation as a process rather than an event: the development of Northern Ireland society will take much time and concerted effort, no less than that of the peace process.
Conclusion
Allan Leonard thanked everyone for attending and Emil Kirjas for including the workshop in the programme of events. He said that there were many interesting and valuable insights provided. Leonard made the point that societal divisions need not be only religious, but that it was a matter of progressing together.
Allan Leonard is the Managing Director of the Northern Ireland Foundation.