ABSTRACT
This chapter contends that in such situations transnational strategies which stress the importance of crossing the borders between states and between national communities are more appropriate. It draws on the national Irish-British conflict now centred on Northern Ireland and previous research into border crossings in both senses (for example, Anderson 1994; Anderson and Goodman, 1998; Anderson and Shuttleworth 1998; Hamilton 2001). Ireland’s cross-border strategy for territorial realignment and conflict-resolution is relatively advanced, partly by virtue of the context and encouragement of the European Union. Although its success is far from assured, people involved in other national conflicts (for example, the Basque Country-Spain, and Palestine-Israel) are now being recommended to look to the Irish example for inspiration following the ‘Belfast Good Friday Agreement’ of 1998 (Agreement 1998).1 It is just possible that Ireland, long a byword for intractable national conflict, could pioneer a new transnational approach to conflict resolution, though it will only succeed if there is a radical extension and reorientation of present developments.
