On December 5, 2024, Professor Peter McLoughlin from Queen’s University Belfast gave a wonderful lecture entitled "Brexit and Northern Ireland: Dealing with the Challenges and Exploring the Opportunities". He discussed in depth the history and current situation of the Northern Ireland issue, as well as the complex challenges in economics, politics and identity brought by Brexit to Northern Ireland, the United Kingdom, Ireland and the European Union.
The lecture first reviewed Northern Ireland's complex history and sorted out the key issues of great historical significance to Northern Ireland, such as the differences in beliefs between Catholics and Protestants, the border issues between Northern Ireland and Ireland, the Northern Ireland Civil Rights Movement, and the subsequent Northern Ireland Conflict. He then discussed the milestone role of the Belfast Agreement and the important positive role played by the EU in stabilizing the political and economic situation in Northern Ireland.
Professor McLoughlin then gave a clear explanation of the impact of Brexit on the current situation in Northern Ireland. Brexit may lead to the reappearance of a hard border in Northern Ireland, which will not only have an adverse impact on trade but also may undermine the hard-won peace. Faced with the challenge of Brexit, all parties have launched fierce debates, each holding its own opinion and finding it difficult to reach a consensus. However, Brexit has also brought some economic opportunities to Northern Ireland. Northern Ireland has become the only place that can fully enter the British and EU markets, making it become an ideal place for international funds represented by American investors to invest in Europe.
In addition to economic and political aspects, Northern Ireland also faces many challenges in terms of identity. The separation between communities still exists, and a new group - the third one "non-republican and non-pro-British" is emerging. In addition, with the changes in the population structure and the rise of Sinn Féin, the issue of Irish unity has resurfaced, causing anxiety among pro-British factions.
In the last part of the lecture, Dr. McLaughlin also discussed with the teachers and students the impact of populism on Northern Ireland and Europe as a whole. He pointed out that populism opposes multiculturalism and holds extreme positions on European identity, ethnicity and language issues. This has not only caused widespread controversy and criticism in the UK, but also triggered similar reactions in other countries.
