

Uncut emerald: Ireland’s unification prospects
Feb 20, 2020
Hamish Birrell, Public policy correspondent for The Economist, discusses the rising prospects of Irish reunification influenced by demographic shifts and recent elections, especially Sinn Féin's success. He delves into public sentiment and constitutional issues in the wake of Brexit. Meanwhile, Greg Karlstrom, Middle East correspondent, analyzes Lebanon's severe economic crisis, marked by crippling debt and political instability. The conversation highlights the urgent need for reforms in the face of widespread corruption and the country's dire financial situation.
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Irish Reunification Prospects
- Brexit and the success of Sinn Féin are raising the prospect of Irish reunification.
- This once-unthinkable idea is gaining traction due to demographic shifts and political changes.
Irish Division and the Troubles
- Ireland was divided in the early 1920s, creating a Protestant north and a Catholic south.
- The Troubles, a period of conflict over Northern Ireland's status, ended with the Good Friday Agreement in 1998.
Factors Driving Reunification
- Brexit upset the status quo in Northern Ireland, where most voted against leaving the EU.
- Demographic shifts and Sinn Féin's success further fuel the possibility of reunification.