Freeston History: Why was it so difficult to find a political solution to the problems in Northern Ireland in the 1970s?

Have the 'Troubles' created an insurmountable for politicians in Northern Ireland. Is it going to be possible to reconcile the two sides in Northern Ireland. Can the Catholics who identify with the Irish Republic reach an agreement with the Protestants who identify with the United Kingdom? The problem for the politicians is how do they end the polarization of Northern Ireland -how do they bring the two communities together?

In 1973 the Sunningdale agreement was reached, it gave the Protestant majority in Northern Ireland a veto on the unification of Ireland as long as they were a majority. The Sunningdale Declaration said " The Irish Government fully accepted and solemnly declared that there could be no change in the status of Northern Ireland until a majority of the people of Northern Ireland desired a change in that status. The British Government solemnly declared that... if in the future the majority of the people of Northern Ireland should indicate a wish to become part of a united Ireland, the British Government would support that wish."

The agreement was met with hostility by the extreme politicians, especially Ian Paisley who feared that the unification of Ireland would be seen as surrendering to the Roman Catholics. He claimed "(Sunningdale) will fail for the Unionist people are determined that they will never submit their necks to the heel of a Southern parliament."

The British government wanted to restore power to a devolved government in Northern Ireland, to end the period of Direct Rule that began in 1972. For it to work the two communities would have to work together to restore peace. Power sharing was proposed, this would end majority rule in Northern Ireland. The Protestant and Loyalists would be placated with the promise that Northern Ireland would remain part of the United Kingdom , as long as the majority there voted for it. The Catholic and Nationalists were offered an Irish dimension, the government in Dublin would have a say in the process. In 1974 power sharing failed, it collapsed in the face of continued IRA violence and the strike action called into being by the Protestants and Unionists.

Under what circumstances would the people of Northern Ireland be prepared to share power. How does the peace process move forward? Why was it possible to reach the Good Friday Agreement in 1998? Think about these issues;