Aspects of the Belfast Agreement

Exploring the crucial aspects of the recent Belfast Agreement this book brings together leading experts on the politics and constitution of Northern Ireland. For many the Agreement represented a subtle inclusive and pluralist bargain; for others it was a betrayal of the Union or conversely of the republican project. Here contributors critically analyze these rival interpretations of the Agreement focusing on the motives of its negotiators the roles performed both by the British and Irish governments and a number of international actors--notably the United States and South Africa--in forging the deal struck on April 10 1998. This analysis is complemented by a comparison with the Agreement''s predecessor the famous 1973 Sunningdale Agreement making it appropriate for all who want a better understanding of Northern Ireland''s past and present political environment.