Constitutional Inclusion in Divided Societies: Conceptual Choices, Practical Dilemmas, and the Contribution of the Grassroots in Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland

Joanne McEvoy* (Corresponding Author), Jennifer Todd

*Corresponding author for this work

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Abstract

Processes of constitutional discussion increasingly invite widespread popular inclusion and participation. Conceptual and practical problems remain, not least the respects in which inclusion is to take place. In deeply divided places, these challenges are intensified, first in the difficulties of conceptualising inclusion, and secondly in the practical dangers participation may pose to peace. We tackle these problems empirically by looking at a hard case of constitutional discussion amidst division: the re-emergence of debate about Irish unity in Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. Through focus groups and interviews, we explore
how ‘others’, disengaged from the main political groups and defined transversally, approach the discussion, showing that they welcome the prospect of participation and seek to remove discursive triggers of conflict by focussing on shared everyday experience. We discuss the implications for the constitutional process and the likely impact on polarisation. The analysis
has implications for the literature on divided societies, for constitutional theory and for policy. We argue that it is both possible and desirable to remedy group exclusion while facilitating universalistic discussion and lessening the dangers of polarisation. The policy implications are quite radical.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)393 - 413
Number of pages21
JournalCooperation and Conflict
Volume58
Issue number3
Early online date17 Jan 2023
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Sept 2023

Bibliographical note

Funding
The author(s) disclosed receipt of the following financial support for the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article: Research for this article was funded by two grants from the Reconciliation Fund of the Irish Department of Foreign Affairs, one to each author respectively for work in Northern Ireland and in the Republic of Ireland, and by one grant from the University of Notre Dame, Clingan Institute, through the ARINS project (Analysing and Researching Ireland, North and South, www.ria.ie/arins).

Keywords

  • constitutional inclusion
  • divided societies
  • Ireland
  • Northern Ireland

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