Theories of International Relations and Northern Ireland

This book uses the case of Northern Ireland to evaluate a number of important theoretical approaches in International Relations. Building from theory, it explores the Good Friday or Belfast Agreement, looking at the negotiation process before the signing, the difficult implementation period that followed and the continuing challenges to peace in the region.

Contributors to the collection investigate a wide range of topics, including the function of deception in promoting peace, the question of partition and how it was reimagined by nationalists such as John Hume, and how the decommissioning process led to a role in internal policing for paramilitaries. The influence of outside actors - notably the United States and the European Union - is also considered, along with the involvement of the Catholic Church and the marginalisation of women.

Incorporating the work of leading academics, this book represents a substantial contribution to the scholarly literature, and will be essential reading for anyone interested in International Relations and the Northern Ireland peace process.