A new article from PI’s Colin Murray and Clare Rice has been published in the Journal of Cross Border Studies in Ireland.
The paper examines the UK’s approach to implementing the Withdrawal Agreement’s Protocol on Ireland/Northern Ireland, focusing on pathologies of (mis)government and examining historical approaches to the management of trade between Great Britain and the island of Ireland.
The full journal is publicly available at this link, with Colin and Clare’s paper starting at pg. 17: http://crossborder.ie/site2015/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Final-Digital-Journal-Cross-Border-Studies.pdf
The Internal Market Bill has been a source of much debate since its publication earlier in September 2020. The PI team has been busy analysing this, in real time on the project’s Twitter feed (@performidenty) and in a number of written pieces.
Colin Murray responded to the initial leak of the IMB’s contents ahead of its publication in a piece for the UK in a Changing Europe (available here), while Clare Rice prepared a blog examining the implications of the IMB for Northern Ireland for the DCU Brexit Institute blog (available here).
A short briefing paper on key aspects of the IMB for Northern Ireland is also available to view here on our website.
Follow us @performidentity for all our latest updates and analysis
Following the publication of the UK’s Command Paper on the implementation of the Withdrawal Agreement’s Protocol on Ireland / Northern Ireland, our team prepared several pieces of analysis.
Aoife O’Donoghue prepared an article for the DCU Brexit Institute Blog – ‘The UK’s Approach to Implementing the Northern Ireland Protocol‘ – which highlighted absences of detail in the document, reaching a conclusion that ‘this is unlikely to be the basis on which the EU will accept the implementation of the Ireland/Northern Ireland Protocol.’
Colin Murray, also writing for the DCU Brexit Institute Blog, highlights ambiguities between the UK’s position and the commitments already signed up to in the Withdrawal Agreement. In ‘Front-Foot Negotiations: The UK’s Proposed Implementation of the Ireland/Northern Ireland Protocol‘ it is argued that the document exposes the UK’s weak position in the discussions, and that rather than bravado, a more realistic approach is necessitated.
Clare Rice prepared an article for The UK in a Changing Europe – ‘A road to nowhere? The UK’s approach to implementing the NI Protocol.’ This piece explored the potential intent behind the position the UK outlined on implementing the NI Protocol. It suggests the Command Paper indicates that Northern Ireland will likely become collateral damage as a consequence of political ambitions beyond its control.
For further analysis and immediate responses to developments as they happen, check out our Twitter – @performidentity
In a new article published on the UK in a Changing Europe blog, Colin Murray presents an overview of two reports published by the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission (NIHRC) and the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission (IHREC).
The first report, authored by Alison Harvey, is entitled ‘A Legal Analysis of Incorporating Into UK Law the Birthright Commitment under the Belfast (Good Friday) Agreement 1998’ while the second is entitled ‘Continuing EU Citizenship “Rights, Opportunities and Benefits” in Northern Ireland after Brexit’ and was authored by four PI team members (Colin Murray, Sylvia de Mars, Aoife O’Donoghue, Ben Warwick).
This article presents an overview of the key areas covered in these publications, and offers some explanation in the context of the DeSouza case.
This approach is, in itself, generating a rolling crisis in Northern Ireland’s governance, as one cause célèbre gives way to the next and everything seems to remain in flux. It remains to be seen how much of this buffeting Northern Ireland’s unique (and fragile) constitutional order can sustain.
Colin Murray, UK in a Changing Europe, April 2020
The article is available to read in full by clicking here.
In a new article, written for the Political Studies Association (PSA) Blog, Clare Rice examines the fallout from the Non-domestic Renewable Heat Incentive Inquiry and considers the implications of the Report’s recommendations for governance in Northern Ireland.
“The #CashforAsh scandal contributed to the unravelling of a complex political web which ultimately saw the collapse of political institutions and three years without a government.”
Colin Murray and Sylvia de Mars attended a meeting of the European Union Select Committee in the House of Lords on 11th February 2020, to give evidence on the revised Ireland / Northern Ireland Protocol. Completing the panel was David Henig, called to share his expertise on trade.
Colin and Sylvia addressed a range of issues pertinent to the work of the Committee, drawing on their expert knowledge of EU law, UK constitutional law and the particularities of the situation in Northern Ireland.
This informative session was followed keenly by experts across the UK, not least in Northern Ireland (see this thread from BBC NI’s Economics and Business Editor, John Campbell), as the complexities that will need to be addressed by the end of 2020 were made unequivocally clear.
Alternatively, the Performing Identities Twitter account (@performidentity) will be sharing short clips from the meeting over the coming days along with some bite-size analysis and insight.
Colin Murray and Ben Warwick from the PI team will be in Belfast next Thursday, presenting the team’s work on citizenship in Northern Ireland post-Brexit.
PI team member, Clare Rice, recently wrote for the DCU Brexit Institute blog.
‘Brexit has provided a fundamental underpinning to this election, with parties mobilising around the language of ‘Leave’ and ‘Remain’ as opposed to purely constitutional lines.’
The PI team have been busy in the lead up to the General Election and in the days since, offering insight and analysis across a range of platforms.
Professor O’Donoghue has appeared on BFM Radio Malaysia and Today FM (Ireland).
Clare Rice has been involved in BBC coverage, appearing on Inside Politics, Sunday Politics, Good Morning Ulster, Evening Extra, Newsline, Newsnight, and the BBC News Channel.
Follow us on Twitter (@performidentity) for all the latest updates and links to catch up on our analyses!
The ‘Performing Identities’ team hosted two lunchtime events on 23/24 June 2021, marking the culmination of a total of 5 years of work on ESRC-funded projects examining Brexit, Northern Ireland and legal, political and social dynamics of both.
In the first event, the PI team came together virtually to present some key findings from research that had been completed as part of the current project, which commenced in early 2019. This concluded with a Q&A.
A recording of this full event is now available below, along with time indicators for each part of the session.
Schedule
00.13 – Colin Murray (‘Rooting Around in Archives: The Protocol in Context’)
13.06 – Ben Warwick (Citizenship and Brexit)
24.21 – Megan Armstrong and Clare Rice (Brexit and Identity in Northern Ireland)
41.38 – Sylvia de Mars and Aoife O’Donoghue (Multi-level Governance and Brexit)
49.25 – Discussion and Conclusion
Performing Identities: Brexit and Northern Ireland – Part 1
On Thursday 24th June 2021, we hosted a second lunchtime event – a panel discussion focused on the theme of identity in Northern Ireland.
The purpose of this session was to engage in conversation about different perspectives on identity in Northern Ireland and to explore how the often overlooked complexity and diversity of identity in this context interacts with the traditionally binary conceptions along religious and/or constitutional lines.
PI’s Colin Murray has analysed the decision reached in the legal case on the Northern Ireland Protocol yesterday.
In his analysis, Colin examines each of the five grounds argued in the case and situates these in wider legal context. He also considers the interaction between the case and sensitive political dynamics at play within Northern Ireland currently in relation to the Protocol.
PI’s Colin Murray and Clare Rice have submitted evidence to the House of Lords European Affairs Sub-Committee on the Protocol on Ireland/Northern Ireland as part of its inquiry into the operation of the Protocol.
PI’s Colin Murray has authored an article examining how differences in understanding the purpose of the Protocol on Ireland/Northern Ireland has led to difficulties between the UK and the EU in relation to addressing its challenges.
Published by LSE British Politics and Policy, the article highlights that until a common understanding of the Protocol’s purpose is reached, it is unlikely that agreement will be achieved on some of its more contentious aspects.
In short, there seems to be very little point in discussing technical/legal fixes at the moment, because the key actors are talking at such cross-purposes that the most contentious protocol issues cannot be resolved.
One of the core elements of the PI project was to compile a database of qualitative data on the themes of Brexit and identity in Northern Ireland. In order to do this, we completed a series of interviews with individuals across Northern Ireland between February 2019 and March 2020.
We have analysed these interviews, and have prepared an academic journal article presenting our findings, to be published in due course. In the interim, we are delighted to be able to share some initial findings with everyone.
A series of quotes have been selected from these interviews – some extremely poignant, others insightful, and all important in their own ways in offering insight to different aspects of identity in Northern Ireland.
These quotes have been voiced by actors and in collaboration with Roots and Wings design collective, we have produced a series of short animated clips. The aim of these is to give an insight to the diversity of perspectives and experiences we encountered.
The full set of clips will be shared over the next few weeks on Twitter, and added to the website. Please follow this link to view the full collection.
We would like to extend our thanks once again to all those who took part in these interviews.
1 – Thoughts on the diversity of perspectives in Northern Ireland that contribute to what ‘identity’ means and how it is understood2 – “This is who you are” Reflections on how outward expressions of identity and perceptions of others can be shaped by different factors3 – On how perceptions of others can be shaped by things such as accent, words, and dress (particularly tops from different sports)4 – “I think a lot of people do it here.” An account of how perceptions of identity can influence the way everyday interactions unfold5 – How has the women’s movement navigated the challenges of historical division in Northern Ireland? 6 – Reflections on how for members of the LGBTQ+ community, Northern Ireland and its politics can be difficult to navigate7 – “...if everything wasn’t orange vs green...”8 – “From what I grew up with, it seems to be a very big change in how we perceive identity…”9 – “..it’s more that we will learn to respect whatever identity anyone would have…”10 – While identity is diverse and complex in Northern Ireland, we hear about how there is a common connection between people simply from being from there
We are very excited to share that PI will be hosting a two-part event in June on the theme of Brexit and Northern Ireland.
Performing Identities: Brexit and Northern Ireland – Part 1
Wednesday 23rd June 2021 – 12.30-1.30pm (Online)
In this lunchtime seminar, PI team members will present key findings from the extensive catalogue of work completed as part of the ESRC-funded ‘Performing Identities’ project, as well as analysis of research that will be publicly shared for the first time.
This session will include work on citizenship and rights, multilevel governance, archival research and key findings from a series of interviews conducted as part of the project exploring identity and Brexit in Northern Ireland. The event will conclude with a Q&A.
The second event will take place the following day (Thursday 24th June) at 1pm – further details and registration information for this will be released soon. Keep an eye on the website and our Twitter account for further updates.
Performing Identities: Brexit and Northern Ireland – Part 2 (Identity)
Thursday 24th June 2021 – 1pm-2.15pm (Online)
Building on themes that emerged through interviews the PI team completed with individuals across Northern Ireland in 2019 and 2020, this event will bring together a range of perspectives and expertise to discuss the complexity and nuances of identity in Northern Ireland.
Panel members are:
– Emma DeSouza (Rights Campaigner; Writer)
– Mark Devenport (Former Political Editor, BBC NI)
– Linda Ervine MBE (Director, Turas; President, East Belfast GAA)
– Susan McKay (Journalist; Author of ‘Northern Protestants: On Shifting Ground’ – available to purchase here)
‘Territory, Politics and Governance’ has published an article co-authored by PI’s Colin Murray with Daniel Wincott and Greg Davies (both Cardiff University).
‘The Anglo-British imaginary and the rebuilding of the UK’s territorial constitution after Brexit: unitary state or union state?‘ presents a fascinating examination of the interaction between the Internal Market Act and conflicting understandings of the UK’s constitution.
“The need to replace European law as a foundation of the UK internal market, and the UK Government’s attempts to exert control over this transition, has produced a sustained debate about what the union means after Brexit.”
PI has contributed analysis to a number of outlets on recent developments within Northern Ireland’s Democratic Unionist Party (DUP).
In a week that saw a party revolt, the resignation of the First Minister and the announcement of the party’s first leadership campaign in its existence, the team have tweeted, written and spoken about events as they have unfolded.
PI’s Clare Rice was interviewed twice on the BBC News Channel, and prepared a blog analysing the situation for LSE Politics and Policy, available to read here.
PI’s Clare Rice has written an article examining some of the root causes that have led to rioting, protests and violence in Northern Ireland over recent weeks.
Published by the UK in a Changing Europe think-tank, the piece highlights that a combination of multiple factors have contributed to these scenes, one of which has been the Protocol on Ireland/Northern Ireland.
The ‘Performing Identities’ team hosted two lunchtime events on 23/24 June 2021, marking the culmination of a total of 5 years of work on ESRC-funded projects examining Brexit, Northern Ireland and legal, political and social dynamics of both. In the first event, the PI team came together virtually to present …
