Political Dialogue in Northern Ireland

In 1991 the politicians of Northern Ireland sat down at the formal negotiating table for the first time in seventeen years. This book tells the fascinating story of the Initiative's three years of painstaking political deals in an enlightening and entertaining narrative, using the words of many of the participants. In 1991 the politicians of Northern Ireland sat down at the formal negotiating table for the first time in seventeen years. This book tells the fascinating story of the Initiative's three years of painstaking political deals in an enlightening and entertaining narrative, using the words of many of the participants. It shows how the Initiative laid the necessary groundwork for the subsequent Irish peace process and how its failures also illuminate current events.

The Northern Irish political talks of 1989-92, known as the Brooke Initiative, laid much of the groundwork for the subsequent peace process, the cease fires of 1994, and the negotiations of 1996-97. Conflict analyst Bloomfield tells the story of the talks, focusing on the dynamics and patterns of the political dialogue, rather than its political content. He concludes that the Northern Irish situation will probably call for talking and more talking for years to come. Annotation c. by Book News, Inc., Portland, Or.