The genesis of the Europeanisation of the Northern Ireland peace process

Abstract

The thesis examines the economic and political contributions of the European Union (EU) to the Northern Ireland peace process, tracing the genesis of EU involvement and analysing how it acted as an arena in which to foster dialogue and positive cooperation. Based on extensive archival research and exclusive elite interviews this thesis provides the first comprehensive study of how the EU contributed to the reconfiguration of Northern Ireland from a site of conflict to a site of conflict amelioration and peacebuilding and demonstrates that the relationship between Northern Ireland and the EU has been much more significant in the peace process than previous studies have suggested.