Post-Brexit UK and territorial fissures: Northern Ireland and the prospects of a united Ireland

Research Project

Project/Area Number	21K01324
Research Category	Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
Allocation Type	Multi-year Fund
Section	一般
Review Section	Basic Section 06010:Politics-related
Research Institution	Oita University
Principal Investigator	Day Stephen 大分大学, 経済学部, 教授 (60404357)
Project Period (FY)	2021-04-01 – 2024-03-31
Project Status	Granted (Fiscal Year 2022)
Budget Amount *help	¥3,250,000 (Direct Cost: ¥2,500,000、Indirect Cost: ¥750,000) Fiscal Year 2023: ¥1,170,000 (Direct Cost: ¥900,000、Indirect Cost: ¥270,000) Fiscal Year 2022: ¥1,170,000 (Direct Cost: ¥900,000、Indirect Cost: ¥270,000) Fiscal Year 2021: ¥910,000 (Direct Cost: ¥700,000、Indirect Cost: ¥210,000)
Keywords	united Ireland / Good Friday Agreement / Belfast Agreement / Unionist / Nationalist / Non-aligned / Executive / Protocol / United Ireland / Other / Northern Ireland / Republic of Ireland / Brexit / border poll
Outline of Research at the Start	The impact of Brexit on the future territorial integrity of the United Kingdom (UK) could prove to be profound. The possibility of an independent Scotland and a united Ireland means that the UK might not exist in 10-years time. The goal of this project is to paint a picture of the political situation in Northern Ireland where remaining part of the UK or supporting a united Ireland is becoming the dominant political question.
Outline of Annual Research Achievements	During the course of this year I have continued, albeit a little slowly, to build my historical and contemporary knowledge of the politics of Ireland and Northern Ireland. This led to a conference presentation at the EU-Kyushu annual conference in March 2023 entitled 'Examining the prospects of a united Ireland 25 years after the Belfast/Good Friday Agreement'. This presentation came together in the wake of two research trips to the island of Ireland over the past year that enabled me to: conduct a number of elite interviews with politicians and party officials from the Republic and Irish politics specialists from Northern Ireland; attend a major public meeting in Belfast on the prospects of a united Ireland; and conduct archival research and collect materials. I have also attended a number of online events during the past year that have included politicians and commentators from across the political spectrum. I am presently in the process of writing up an academic paper where I have come to realize just how complex and contested the debate about a united Ireland is.
Current Status of Research Progress	Current Status of Research Progress 3: Progress in research has been slightly delayed. Reason It has taken longer than expected to bring myself up-to-speed with the historical and contemporary machinations of this very complex and contested debate.
Strategy for Future Research Activity	I intend to submit and present a written paper to the Japan Comparative Politics Association in June 2023. This will form the basis of the whole project going forward.