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A decade following the UK entered into a hasty public vote that polarised the nation and unleashed chaos, a caution emerges from beyond the Irish Sea: it might repeat.

Authorities and citizens entered unwittingly Brexit and the identical might transpire with a referendum on a unified Ireland, initiating upheavals for which nobody is ready.

That is the message from two leading writers from both sides of the Irish border who have joined forces to examine the advantages and disadvantages of Northern Ireland departing the UK to form a different country with the Republic of Ireland.

Governmental Structures Ill-Equipped

Fintan O’Toole and The Northern Ireland editor, have determined that the political establishments in Ireland and Britain are woefully unprepared for a possibly contentious and seismic public vote.

"The lesson of Brexit remains unheeded, which is that events can arise suddenly and can gather momentum swiftly," the commentator stated. "It is my view that the political architecture of our region remains highly fragile."

New Title Seeks to Encourage Dialogue

The team have examined the governmental, economic and cultural arguments for any constitutional change in a volume, The Case For and Against Unification, published by the Dublin-based Royal Irish Academy.

They aim to provoke discussion on the matter with a tour of public talks that will bring them to Westminster soon.

"What concerns everybody, or ought to concern all involved, is the Brexit vote of 2016," said O’Toole.

"We do not want a referendum on a thumbs up-thumbs down, ambiguous question whose consequences have not been spelled out because then you end up with an highly polarised community where those defeated are unable to accept losing and the those successful are uncertain exactly what it is that they have won."

Legal Framework

Under the Good Friday agreement, the Northern Ireland official should call a public vote on Irish unity if it seems probable that a most voters would approve.

Nationalist parties and other nationalists claim such a time is looming, and a non-profit called Ireland’s Future has garnered backing, but authorities in Dublin and London and unionists play down the possibility, leaving it unclear when or if there could be a referendum.

Insufficient Informed Dialogue

Political rhetoric for and against unity has masked the shortage of informed dialogue, stated McBride.

"People tend to be for or against the notion but the concrete planning which might go beyond that to achieve it has largely not occurred. Much has gone on in scholarly circles but very few government figures or activists seek to involve themselves even with the essentials. As an example, what sort of state would you want? Unitary? Decentralised?"

Book's Approach

In the volume, none of the commentators advocates unity or the existing arrangement. They writes two articles that aim for neutrality in laying out the case for a unified Ireland and the argument against, marshalling financial and societal figures, previous instances and constitutional models.

Debates encompass flags and symbols, levies, medical care, elderly benefits, national debt responsibilities and the danger of pro-UK militancy. The objective is to educate and stimulate discussion.

"There's huge interest in the issue but there has not yet occurred a discussion," stated O’Toole. "Discussion suggests an acknowledgement of the idea that there may exist reasonable perspectives on both sides."

Parallel Votes

A referendum in Northern Ireland would also trigger one in the republic, where voters report they favour unification but oppose greater financial contributions or introducing a different emblem to recognise pro-UK communities' British identity.

"Authorities in Dublin must determine what the plan from pro-unification movements is beyond just stating: 'We want a united Ireland and we welcome you'," stated the commentator.

Probability of Public Vote

The journalist believes a national vote in his era is possible and that it might occur unexpectedly. "There might be just a irresponsible or a bad or a feckless secretary of state who says: 'We should proceed and resolve it.'"

Each of the nationalists and unionists have credible, valid arguments, he commented. "One side will succeed in this matter and somebody will in the end lose but both parties has possesses valuable insights to gain from the other's viewpoints."

Appeal for Broader Debate

Westminster needed to engage with the debate, stated O’Toole. "This is about Britain. It's a British question just as much as it is an Irish question."