The Northern Ireland Conflict in the wake of Brexit

Occurred on January 30th, 2020, Brexit has revived an atmosphere of tensions in the Irish community, raising the concern of social divisions that were already in place for many generations. The relative peace in the region facilitated by the European Union in 1998 via the Good Friday Agreement is being at stake as a result of Brexit. This book presents a snapshot of the historical context of the protracted Northern Ireland conflict while exploring the roots of the tensions between both Irish and British communities. The concentration of two main identity groups, which traditionally have been antagonistic and mutually exclusive being identified as a key trigger to conflictual nature of their relationship, this study outlines an intervention strategy which ultimate goal is de-escalating tensions and creating the basis for a common future among community groups in Northern Ireland by empowering mutual understanding and facilitating communication. Focusing on the needs of the local population and stakeholders such as safety, identity and belonging is a crucial step forward in tensions de-escalation and will contribute to maintaining peace in the Irish region in the post Brexit setting.