John McGarry

"This book collects some of the major essays, past and new, of two of the leading authorities on the Northern Ireland conflict. It is unified by the theory of consociation, one of the most influential theories in the regulation of conflicts. The authors are critical exponents of the approach, and several chapters explain its attractions over alternative forms of conflict regulation. The book explains why Northern Ireland's national divisions have made the achievement of a consociational agreement particularly difficult."--BOOK JACKET.

This is a timely analysis of the Northern Ireland conflict and the various attempts to explain it. The book highlights the main problems and issues involved in working towards consensus and constructs an argument for a possible agenda for peace.