The United States and Peace in Northern Ireland

This book examines the role of U.S. diplomacy in Northern Ireland and the peace process from the 1970s until the present day.

Through interview material and testimonies from key figures in the U.S., Britain and Ireland who were centrally involved in the politics of Northern Ireland during that time, the book weaves together a picture of how U.S. pressures and interventions over Northern Ireland took shape and, in response, how the British and Irish governments sought to influence those pressures and interventions. Starting with Carter’s initial statement on Northern Ireland in 1977 the book then highlights the end of the Cold War as the international backdrop to relations under Reagan and Thatcher before examining the development of economic diplomacy that followed during the Clinton presidency and the changing nature of intervention since. Such themes and influences come together here to provide a comprehensive account of how shifts in the ‘special relationship’ between the U.S. and U.K. took place over Northern Ireland and how that collaboration was disruptive and indifferent as well as supportive.

This book will be of much interest to students of peace and conflict resolution, U.S. foreign policy, British politics and international relations.