Northern Ireland is caught between war and peace. On the one hand, there is a widespread desire for a permanent end to violence, but on the other hand big political divisions continue to keep unionism and nationalism apart. One issue that divides the two blocs is the role of the EU in Northern...

Claims of labour market discrimination against Catholics run to the heart of the Northern Ireland conflict. This paper assesses British Government led moves to promote fair employment in the region. It argues that initial policies to promote labour market balance were weak and ineffectual but...

The Irish model of social partnership is considered distinctive as it is based on the principles of deliberative democracy more than adversarial bargaining. The deliberative features of the model are considered to be threefold. First, the negotiations to conclude national social agreements are...

This article uses the theory of path dependency to explain the evolution of employment conflict resolution systems in Ireland and Sweden. It argues that the traditional 'voluntarist' conflict management path followed in Ireland has fragmented as a result of a series of internal developments that...

This paper examines the Irish experience of social partnership at organisation level. It argues that three features in particular distinguish the Irish case. One is the importance attached to a procedural consensus to advance partnership. Another is the stress placed on experimental action in...

After examining the arguments in favour of social economy activities, this article argues that recent initiatives in this area in the Republic of Ireland have not reached maximum potential. Three factors are regarded as holding back performance. One is that the necessary institutional conditions...