The Components of Peace
April marked the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement, the diplomatic breakthrough that brought peace to Northern Ireland.
The deal required a diplomatic team from more than one country. United Kingdom Prime Minister Tony Blair, Irish Prime Minister Bertie Ahern, US President Bill Clinton, and the leaders of Northern Ireland’s four main political parties, presented what became known as the Good Friday Agreement. That accord resolved a conflict that had caused thousands of deaths and untold grief and destruction for decades, arguably for centuries, as stated by Blair in his story “Lessons from Northern Ireland’s Peace.”
The peace was imperfect at the time, and it remains so. But compare Northern Ireland today with how it was a quarter-century ago, and you can legitimately call what has been achieved a success. The peace has held, the economy has doubled in size, and Belfast, a city which used to be dressed in barbed wire and covered with military patrols, is now a thriving European city with a vibrant technology sector and a quality night life, as stated by Blair. It is hard to think of another truly successful peace process in recent history.
Although Blair backed the illegal and unsuccessful Iraq War in 2003 during the George W. Bush Administration, he made some wonderful points in his story about the establishment of peace. Blair said that peace cannot take root until the two parties (there could be more, remember) in question have an agreement they see as conceptually fair. In the case of Northern Ireland, the core part of the GFA was the principle of consent: those who want a united Ireland must accept that the North should remain part of the United Kingdom for as long as a majority there wish it. This was a big concession to Northern Ireland’s Unionists. In return, Unionists accepted the principle of equal and fair treatment for the nationalist, predominantly Roman Catholic community. The new treatment was embodied in new institutions in areas like policing and justice, and by the recognition, through cooperation with the Irish Republic, of the nationalist aspiration for unity of Ireland.
The Israeli-Palestinian peace process, the so-called two-state solution, shows that a framework alone will not work. In addition, a peace process needs constant attention by those involved. An agreed framework is just a beginning – a roadmap and not a destination. Peace processes take time, often years. In addition, negotiators must not be afraid to seek outside help.
The former UK prime minister also stated that quality leadership is important in a peace process and that the parties involved in the process must trust each other. Sixth, and so important, all parties involved in the process must realize that the conflict in question involves deep mistrust.
He finishes the story with a remembrance of the GFA: “with the distance of 25 years, we can see that the GFA brought real, far-reaching change. Many living today are the beneficiaries of it. Whether they know it or think about it doesn’t matter. What matters is that it was done.”
Today’s Middle East is rife with conflict, as Israel in politically polarized and Iran continues to project power beyond its borders through a variety of proxies. Some are even worrying about an Israel/Iran war. The story will continue to write itself, and it might not be a happy story. However, let’s hope there’s light at the end of the tunnel. Maybe the Middle East will someday be in a better place to apply Blair’s points.
Jason Sibert is the Lead Writer for the Peace Economy Project
