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A decade following the UK entered into a hasty public vote that divided the nation and unleashed chaos, a advisory comes from across the Irish Sea: it could happen again.

Policymakers and electorate entered unwittingly Brexit and the similar might transpire with a referendum on a unified Ireland, sparking disturbances for which nobody is ready.

That represents the warning from two prominent commentators from both sides of the Irish border who have joined forces to scrutinise the pros and cons of Northern Ireland exiting the UK to create a fresh nation with the Republic of Ireland.

Governmental Structures Ill-Equipped

The author and columnist and Sam McBride, have concluded that the administrative systems in Ireland and Britain are gravely unprepared for a possibly tense and monumental referendum.

"The crucial insight of Brexit hasn't been learned, which is that stuff can arise suddenly and can gain traction rapidly," O’Toole said. "I would suggest that the governmental framework of our archipelago remains highly fragile."

Book Publication Intends to Provoke Discussion

The duo have studied the political, economic and cultural arguments for any governmental shift in a volume, The Case For and Against Unification, issued by the Dublin-based Royal Irish Academy.

They hope to provoke discussion on the matter with a series of public talks that will lead them to Westminster in the coming weeks.

"What concerns all parties, or ought to concern every person, is the Brexit vote of 2016," stated the analyst.

"We should prevent a national vote on a binary, ambiguous question whose implications have remained undefined because then you find yourself with an extraordinarily divided society where people who have lost are unable to accept losing and the people who have won don't know quite what it is that they have won."

Constitutional Provision

Under the Good Friday agreement, the Northern Ireland secretary of state must arrange a public vote on Irish unification if it seems probable that a most voters would support.

Nationalist parties and other pro-unification groups claim that moment is imminent, and a group named Ireland’s Future has built momentum, but both governments and pro-UK factions play down the possibility, resulting in ambiguity whether or when there will be a national vote.

Lack of Substantive Discussion

Partisan language for and against unification has masked the absence of serious debate, stated McBride.

"Individuals are often supportive or opposed the idea but the concrete planning which may surpass that to make it possible has largely not occurred. A great deal has taken place in academia but scarcely any government figures or activists want to engage with the basics. As an example, which kind of country might be preferred? Centralised? Federal?"

Volume's Strategy

In the volume, neither author advocates unification or the status quo. Both composes two essays that seek objectivity in laying out the argument for a united Ireland and the rationale against, assembling economic and societal statistics, previous instances and governmental frameworks.

Debates encompass national emblems, taxes, healthcare systems, retirement funds, sovereign debt obligations and the danger of pro-UK militancy. The objective is to inform and provoke conversation.

"There is significant curiosity in the issue but there is still lacking a discussion," commented O’Toole. "Debate indicates an acknowledgement of the concept that there might be valid points on either side."

Parallel Votes

A referendum in Northern Ireland would additionally cause one in the republic, where voters say they favour unification but reject greater financial contributions or adopting a new flag to reflect unionists' British identity.

"Authorities in Dublin should establish what the proposal from pro-unification movements is aside from just declaring: 'We seek a united Ireland and we welcome you'," remarked O’Toole.

Possibility of Public Vote

The journalist considers a national vote in his lifetime is probable and that it could happen abruptly. "There might be just a reckless or a bad or a negligent official who declares: 'Let's just do this and resolve it.'"

Both pro-unification advocates and pro-UK supporters have reasonable, justified arguments, he said. "One side will win here and somebody will ultimately not succeed but both parties has got valuable insights to gain from the other's viewpoints."

Call for Wider Dialogue

Westminster must participate in the debate, urged the analyst. "This concerns Britain. It's a British question just as much as it is an Irish question."