mapping frontiers, plotting pathways

MAPPING FRONTIERS, PLOTTING PATHWAYS:ROUTES TO NORTH-SOUTH COOPERATION IN A DIVIDED ISLAND

MAPPING FRONTIERS, PLOTTING PATHWAYS


BACKGROUND

Borders and border zones as a reality of life in contemporary Europe …


BACKGROUND

and the Irish border as a new challenge: from four provinces … to two states


OBJECTIVES

The programme will explore the border from a comparative historical perspective and look at efforts (especially after 1998) to counteract its more negative effects. It is designed to:

1. Improve our understanding of the nature of borders in general and of the Irish border in particular

2.Assess socio-economic and political costs of partition

3.Examine cross-border bodies, old and new

4.Propose measures to improve cross-border relations


APPROACH

The programme will tackle three main themes:

Borders in comparative perspective comparison with other borders and frontiers zones within and outside Europe

The Irish border analysis of partition and its consequences for the two Irish states that appeared in 1921-22

Cross-border relationsassessment of the degree of cross-border contact in contemporary Ireland and of the changing position since 1998


(1) BORDERS: COMPARATIVE

There are many bases of comparison: “Cold War” frontiers (Korea, China-Taiwan;

Germany and Vietnam in the past)

Internal ethnic conflicts (Cyprus, Sri Lanka, Belgium)

Consequences of geopolitical realignment (Alsace-Lorraine, Tyrol, Schleswig)

New transfrontier issues (Basque Country, etc.)


(2) THE IRISH BORDER

The evolution of the Irish border will be studied in detail, focusing on:

Partition as a mechanism for separating communities

“Cold-war” perspectives from Dublin and Belfast

The “Irish dimension” after 1972 Negotiating a new North-South relationship


(3) CROSS-BORDER RELATIONS

Here three major sub-themes or topics will be addressed:

The nature of the border The impact of the border Addressing the issue of the border



A. The nature of the borderA. The nature of the border

The border and the two communities The southern minority The northern minority The reality of life on the border



B. The impact of the borderB. The impact of the border Politics and political organisations (parties,

elected members) Public administration (civil services,

education, health, etc.) Communications (road, rail, air, sea;

newspapers, radio, TV, etc.) Economy (trade, industrial develop.) Society, culture, religion, sports (island-

wide organisation)



C. Addressing the issue of the borderC. Addressing the issue of the border

Voluntary or non-state initiatives (Co-Operation Ireland etc.)

Public sector initiatives post-1972 European dimension (INTERREG, Peace and

Reconciliation Programme, etc.) North-South implementation bodies post-1998 Other forms of institutionalised public sector

cooperation


MODE OF OPERATION

Economic andSocial Research

Institute

UNIVERSITY CO LLEG E DUBLIN(INSTITUTE FOR

BRITISH-IRISH STUDIES)

Dem ocraticDialogue

Centre forCross-Border

Studies

Q UEEN'S UNIVERSITY BELFAST(INSTITUTE O F

G O VERNANCE, CIBR)

RESEARCH TEAM(w orking on associated projects; alternating

m eetings and border meetings)


OUTPUTS

CONFERENCES AND MEETINGS Regular workshops and round-table meetings Periodic conferences and public events Closing conference

PUBLICATIONS Regular working papers Journal articles, book chapters, two books Website

PUBLIC IMPACT Involvement of policy makers Liaison with public


Research team (Belfast-Armagh): Elizabeth Meehan, Liam O’Dowd, Cathal McCall, Patrick McWilliams, James Anderson, Hastings Donnan, Andy Pollak, Robin Wilson


Research team (Dublin): John Coakley, Jennifer Todd, Etain Tannam, Cormac Ó Gráda, Kevin Howard, Kieran Rankin, John Bradley


CONTACTS: Dublin:+353-1-716 [email protected]/ibis

Belfast:+44-28-9097 [email protected]

mapping frontiers, plotting pathways

Documents