THE ROYAL IRISH ACADEMY IS IRELAND'S LEADING BODY OF EXPERTS IN THE SCIENCES AND HUMANITIES

The Royal Irish Academy/Acadamh Ríoga na hÉireann champions research. We identify and recognise Ireland’s world class researchers. We support scholarship and promote awareness of how science and the humanities enrich our lives and benefit society. We believe that good research needs to be promoted, sustained and communicated. The Academy is run by a Council of its members. Membership is by election and considered the highest academic honour in Ireland.

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Irish Studies in International Affairs

Commissioned research articles are being published in Irish Studies in International Affairs and are freely available on our publishing platform Project Muse. All articles are peer reviewed, available open access and come with at least one academic written response published alongside it.

Our partner projects are listed below and we invite you to make contact if you are interested in writing for us in the journal or to talk to us about a collaboration.

Agreements/Peace/Constitutional question
Getting Ready: The Need to Prepare for a Referendum on Reunification Brendan O'Leary
Response: The Hermeneutics of the Good Friday Agreement: A Response to 'Getting Ready' by Brendan O'Leary Christopher McCrudden
Response: On the Sanctity of Borders: A Response to 'Getting Ready' by Brendan O'Leary Fionnuala Ní Aoláin
A Reply Brendan O'Leary
British Irish Relations/Good Friday/Belfast Agreement
Can British-Irish Cooperation Be Revived? A Response to ‘The British-Irish
Relationship and the Centrality of the British-Irish Intergovernmental
Conference’, by Etain Tannam		 Rory Montgomery
The British-Irish Relationship and the Centrality of the British-Irish Intergovernmental
Conference		 Etain Tannam
The Long History of Hard-Won Agreements: A Response to Etain Tannam, ‘The
British-Irish Relationship and the Centrality of the British-Irish
Intergovernmental Conference’		 Mary E. Daly
Civic Engagement/Deliberation
A Modest Proposal: Building a Deliberative System in Northern Ireland Jane Suiter
Deliberating on the Constitutional Future: A Response to ‘A Modest Proposal: Building a Deliberative System in Northern Ireland’ by Jane Suiter Colin Harvey
The Constitutional Future: A Reply to Colin Harvey Jane Suiter
Deliberating across the Divide: A Response to 'A Modest Proposal' By Jane Suiter Clodagh Harris
Let ‘the People’ Decide: Reflections on Constitutional Change and ‘Concurrent
Consent’		 Colin Harvey
Constitutional Change: A Response to ‘Let “The People” Decide: Reflections on Constitutional Change and “Concurrent Consent”’ by Colin Harvey Jennifer Kavanagh
Thinking Seriously about Irish Unity: A Response to ‘Let “The People” Decide:
Reflections on Constitutional Change and “Concurrent Consent”’ by Colin Harvey		 Colm O'Cinneide
Constitution/Ethics
One Island, Two Peoples: Ethical Perspectives on Ireland's Constitutional Future Liam Kennedy
Economics Subvention
Why the ‘Subvention’ does not Matter: Northern Ireland and the All-Ireland Economy John Doyle
Comparing Social Security Provision North and South of Ireland: Past Developments and Future Challenges Ciara Fitzpatrick, Charles O'Sullivan
Response: Debating the Cost of Irish Reunification: A Response to ‘Why the Subvention does not Matter’ by John Doyle Alan Barrett
The UK Subvention and the Debate on a United Ireland: A Reply to Esmond Birnie’s Response to ‘Why the “Subvention” Does Not Matter: Northern Ireland and the All-Ireland Economy’ by John Doyle John Doyle
The Subvention Matters: A Response to ‘Why the “Subvention” Does Not Matter: Northern Ireland and the All-Ireland Economy’ by John Doyle Esmond Birnie
Economics/Social Security
Challenges or Opportunities?: A Response to ‘Comparing Social Security Provision in the North and South of Ireland’ by Ciara Fitzpatrick and Charles O'Sullivan Fiona Dukelow
Brexit: The ‘Bread and Butter’ Implications: A Response to ‘Comparing Social Security Provision in the North and South of Ireland’ by Ciara Fitzpatrick and Charles O'Sullivan Madeleine Leonard
A New Welfare Imaginary for the Island of Ireland Mary P. Murphy
Response: Establishing a New Laboratory: A Response to ‘A New Welfare Imaginary for the Island of Ireland’ by Mary P. Murphy Charles O'Sullivan, Ciara Fitzpatrick
Converge or Diverge? One Island, Two Regimes: A Response to ‘A New Welfare Imaginary for the Island of Ireland’ by Mary P. Murphy Fred Powell
Welfare: A Reply to Fred Powell and to Charles O'Sullivan and Ciara Fitzpatrick Mary P. Murphy
Economy
Response: Thoughts on Quality of Life, North and South: A Response to ‘Who is Better off’ by Adele Bergin and Seamus McGuinness John FitzGerald
A Reply Adele Bergin, Seamus McGuinness
Who is Better off? Measuring Cross-border Differences in Living Standards,
Opportunities and Quality of Life on the Island of Ireland		 Adele Bergin, Seamus McGuinness
Education
The Rise and Fall and Rise of Academic Selection: The Case of Northern Ireland Martin Brown, Chris Donnelly, Paddy Shevlin, Craig Skerritt, Gerry McNamara, Joe O'Hara
Response: Nothing of Benefit: A Response to ‘The Rise and Fall and Rise of Academic Selection: The Case of Northern Ireland’ by Martin Brown et al. Joanne Hughes
Response: A Problem of Policy Paralysis: A Response to ‘The Rise and Fall and Rise of Academic Selection: The Case of Northern Ireland’ by Martin Brown et
al.		 Tony Gallagher
Good Friday/Belfast Agreement
Response: Configuring Irish Unification Processes: A Response to
'The Good Friday Agreement and a United Ireland' by Rory Montgomery		 Oran Doyle
A Reply Rory Montgomery
The Good Friday Agreement and a United Ireland Rory Montgomery
Health
Cross-Border Cooperation Health in Ireland Deirdre Heenan
Response: A Crowded Stage: A Response to 'Cross-Border Cooperation Health in Ireland' by Deirdre Heenan Anne Matthews
Tracking the Wave of a Calamitous Failure: A Response to ‘Obstacles to Public Health that even Pandemics cannot Overcome: The Politics of COVID-19 on the Island of Ireland’ by Ann Nolan et al. Ivan J. Perry
A Reply Christopher D. Graham, Ann Nolan
Obstacles to Public Health that even Pandemics cannot Overcome: The Politics of Covid-19 on the Island of Ireland Ann Nolan, Sara Burke, Emma Burke, Catherine Darker, Joe Barry, Nicola O'Connell, Lina Zgaga, Luke Mather, Gail Nicolson, Martin Dempster, Christopher Graham, Philip Crowley, Cliodhna O'Connor, Katy Tobin, Gabriel Scally
Health/Pharma/Economy
The Wealthiest Region in These Islands? A Vision for Northern Ireland: A Response to ‘Drivers and Barriers of Cross-Border Sectoral Ecosystems: The Pharmaceutical Sector in an All-Island Context’ by Chris van Egeraat and Declan Curran Dermot Diamond
Drivers and Barriers of Cross-Border Ecosystems: The Pharmaceutical Sector Chris van Egeraat, Declan Curran
Collaborating on Healthcare on an All-Island Basis: A Scoping Study Deirdre Heenan
Identity
Unionism, Identity and Irish Unity: Paradigms, Problems and Paradoxes Jennifer Todd
Response: Traditions, Lives and New Identities in a Dynamic Political Landscape: A Response to 'Unionism, Identity and Irish Unity: Paradigms, Problems and Paradoxes' by Jennifer Todd Máire Branif
Introduction, overview
Editorial: Introducing ARINS—Analysing and Researching Ireland, North and South John Doyle, Cathy Gormley-Heenan, Patrick Griffin
Law/Human Rights
Implications for the Protection of Human Rights in a United Ireland Brice Dickson
Nation-making and Re-making: A Response to Brice Dickson, ‘The Protection of Human Rights in
a United Ireland’		 Fiona de Londras
The Road Not (Yet) Taken: A Charter of Rights for the Island of Ireland: A Response
to ‘The Protection of Rights in a United Ireland’ by Brice Dickson		 Suzanne Egan
Referenda
The Perils of Referendums: A Review Matt Qvortrup
Response: The Rules for Holding Referendums on Irish Unity: A Response to ‘The Perils of Referendums:
A Review’ by Matt Qvortrup		 Eileen Connolly
The Franchise in Irish Unification Referendums Christopher McCrudden, Oran Doyle, David Kenny
Response: Setting the Franchise for a Northern Ireland Referendum on Unification: Discretion,
Determination and the Common Good: A Response to ‘The Franchise in Irish
Unification Referendums’ by Christopher McCrudden, Oran Doyle and David Kenny		 Conor Casey
Response: A Historic Referendum—but who are the People? A Response to ‘The Franchise in an
Irish Unification Referendum’ by Christopher McCrudden, Oran Doyle and David
Kenny Cheryl Saunders		 Cheryl Saunders
Response: Beyond the Path of Least Resistance: Constructing a Referendum Franchise that Reflects
the People of Northern Ireland: A Response to ‘The Franchise in Irish
Unification Referendums’ by Christopher McCrudden, Oran Doyle and David Kenny		 C.R.G. Murray
Religion
Pulpit to Public: Church Leaders on a Post-Brexit Island Gladys Ganiel
Response: Shaking Ideologies: A Response to ‘Pulpit to Public: Church Leaders on a Post-Brexit
Island’ by Gladys Ganiel		 Philip McDonagh
The Role of Christian Church Leaders, Past and Present: A Response to ‘Pulpit to
Public: Church Leaders on a Post-Brexit Island’ by Gladys Ganiel		 Margaret M. Scull
The Churches’ Role in Articulating ‘Essential Values’: A Reply to Philip McDonagh’s
and Margaret M. Scull’s Responses to ‘Pulpit to Public: Church Leaders on a
Post-Brexit Island’ by Gladys Ganiel		 Gladys Ganiel

 

ARINS Partner Projects

 

The Quill Project: Treaties and Agreements

This collection of treaties, agreements, legislation, and joint statements relating to the status of Northern Ireland was commissioned by ARINS. It forms part of the Writing Peace project, an initiative bringing together archives from across the political spectrum to create a rounded view of the context and detail of the peace talks in Northern Ireland from the late 1980s to early 2000s. Online resource collections and cutting-edge analytical tools will celebrate the constellation of peace makers involved and help scholars and practitioners alike to learn lessons for the future. 

Read about the Quill Project

The Future of Cross Border Cooperation in the Arts

Project Leads: Ruth Hegarty (Royal Irish Academy) & Catherine Wilsdon (University of Notre Dame)
Funders: Department of Foreign Affairs Reconciliation Fund,  Keough-Naughton Institute for Irish Studies, and the Royal Irish Academy.

Read report         

Read executive summary

Hadley and Woodley, 'The Future of Cross-Border Cooperation in the Arts-Research and Policy Findings from Ireland and Northern Ireland' Irish Studies in International Affairs, 2023 34.2.

Thirty Years After: Comparing German Reunification with Possible Irish Reunification

Project Leads: Brendan O’Leary (University of Pennsylvania) & Patrick Griffin (University of Notre Dame)
Funders: Keough-Naughton Institute for Irish Studies and applications pending for other funding.

Giving Voice to Diversity: Plural Perspectives on Constitutional Change

Project Leads: Jennifer Todd (University College Dublin), Joanne McEvoy (University of Aberdeen), Dawn Walsh (University College Dublin)
Funders: Department of Foreign Affairs, Reconciliation Fund; Keough-Naughton Institute for Irish Studies.

McEvoy and Todd, 'Constitutional Inclusion in Divided Societies: Conceptual Choices, Practical Dilemmas, and the Contribution of the Grassroots in Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland' Cooperation and Conflict, 2023.

McEvoy and Todd,  'Obstacles to Constitutional Participation: Lessons from Diverse Voices in Post-Brexit Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland', British Journal of Politics and International Relations, 2023.

McEvoy, Todd and Walsh, ‘Participatory Constitutionalism and the Agenda for Constitutional Change: Socio-Economic Issues in Irish Constitutional Debates' Irish Studies in International Affairs, 2022 33.2.

Gendering Constitutional Debates in Northern Ireland: The Case of Irish Unification

Project Leads: Fidelma Ashe (Ulster University) and Eilish Rooney (Ulster University).
Funder: Joseph Rowntree Charitable Trust

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