Explaining the Good Friday Agreement: A Learning Process

In: Government & opposition: an international journal of comparative politics, Band 36, Heft 4, S. 493-518

Abstract

Tannam argues that despite potential pitfalls in forging a lasting peace in Northern Ireland, progress will continue to be made, because Anglo-Irish policy making is rational & consistent & has adopted the approach of a learning process. Tannam explains the concept of political learning by drawing on the work of Haas. Anglo-Irish initiatives are compared & contrasted, showing that both British & Irish policymakers demonstrate evidence of adaptation & even reassessment of assumptions as they continue to learn what might work best. The essay concludes that, although there are reasons for pessimism, policy learning may eventually lead to lasting peace. 5 Tables. J. Backman