I. Historical retrospective

Source: https://www.law.georgetown.edu/rossrights/chapters/7.html

The roots of the conflict date back to the period of Middle Ages. In 1542, King of England, Henry VIII made a successful attempt to establish English-controlled Kingdom of Ireland; however, he did not succeed in introducing the Protestant Reformation, as most of the population remained Catholic. The following centuries were marked by occasional protests and uprisings of the local landholders (Rebellion of 1641 is, probably, one of the most tragic events for Ireland in 17^th century) that even led to wars on the religious grounds in 1641-1652 and 1689-1691.

According to the 1691 Treaty of Limerick, Irish landowners were virtually discriminated by the ruling class (predominantly belonging to the Anglican church). There were more armed conflicts and mutinies in the 18^th century; people actively migrated to the British colonies in America. As a result, in 1801 it was declared that the two islands were united under the rule of the British crown, forming the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland (commonly known as the British Empire). It is necessary to mention that in 1840s many Irish people left the country due to the Great Famine.

The next key point is early 20^th century: progressive and liberal politicians were regarding the possibility of introducing so-called Home Rule. But the difference between the opinions of the House of Lords and the House of Commons eventually reflected in the 1911 Parliament Act. Nevertheless, not all representatives of the Irish elites were in favour of Home Rule: Conservative and Unionist Party and Ulster Volunteers sought maintenance of the status quo.

After World War I was over, the ideas of partition of Ireland came at the fore. The situation was aggravated by the war between the Irish forces (in particular, Irish Republican Army, or IRA) and British military (1919-1921). In 1919, the UK Prime Minister David Lloyd George proposed the creation of two Home Rule areas on the island: 26 counties with Dublin as an administrative centre and 6 counties ruled from Belfast (Southern Ireland and Northern Ireland, respectively. This was implemented in Government of Ireland Act 1920; as for Anglo-Irish Treaty signed in 1922, Northern Ireland became a part of the Irish Free State with the right to separate from it and reunite with the United Kingdom under Irish Free State Constitution Act 1922. The Parliament of Northern Ireland immediately used this right, and the territory of Northern Ireland became a part of the UK.

Finally, a period that is closer to the modernity is usually called «The Troubles»[5]. It encompasses three decades, since 1968 to 1998. It has to do with the struggle within Northern Ireland itself (on the one hand, it is Protestant royalist majority; on the other hand, these are Republicans nationalists). Northern Ireland as an independent state is the goal of the latter. During these 30 years, more than three and a half thousand people fell victims. In 1969, the Provisional Irish Republican Army (PIRA) split from the Official IRA and resorted to the strategy of the «long war». Notwithstanding any compromises (such as the 1985 Anglo-Irish Agreement), the confrontation between Unionists and «Sinn Fé in» (political wing of the IRA) was still the main issue in the relations between London and Belfast. At any rate, peace process initiated in 1996 ended up with the 1998 Good Friday Agreement signed in Belfast which satisfied all of the parties but for Democratic Unionist Party (DUP). Its main consequence is the return of self-government to Northern Ireland (therefore, direct rule and autonomy was introduced again). Most of the electors (both in Ireland and Northern Ireland) voted in favour of this agreement at the referenda. 2000s turned out far less problematic under these circumstances; at any rate, the question is far from being solved. Some academicians tend to refer to it as a neglected crisis.