Biden visit to Northern Ireland could provide catalyst for prosperity - expert
The visit by US president Joe Biden - along with the world 's media - could provide a catalyst for peace and future prosperity in Northern Ireland, a leading academic expert has said today.
Dr Steven McCabe (pictured), political economist and Senior Fellow at the Centre for Brexit Studies at Birmingham City University, was speaking head of the president 's visit which marks the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement - the peace deal which largely ended the conflict known as the Troubles.
However, the circumstances are less than ideal, as the power-sharing political institutions set up by the agreement have not been fully operating for more than a year.
But Dr McCabe believes president Biden 's visit could “concentrate minds ” and alter the position of the political institutions - particularly the DUP.Dr McCabe said: “The consequences of the Brexit referendum held seven years ago are in no small part a reason why instabilities in Northern Ireland - always somewhat delicate - have resulted in the political impasse which currently prevails.
“Whether the anniversary of the signing of the Good Friday Agreement and the visit by President Joe Biden can concentrate minds will be seen in coming days and weeks. Perhaps the prospect of increasing investment may be sufficient to ensure movement by the truculent Democratic Unionist Party in their stance.
“It's worth remembering that the size of NI's economy has doubled since the end of conflict. Unfortunately, however, as recent events, particularly over the weekend demonstrate, young people with limited prospects who believe the rhetoric of the past combined with deeply ingrained suspicions of the other side are only too willing to perpetuate tensions and conflict which have led to 3,500 deaths and in excess of 47,000 terribly injured since 1969.
“The presence of the US President and the world's media could provide the catalyst for the peace and future prosperity that Northern Ireland needs. At least in PM Rishi Sunak there appears to be the sort of commitment to repairing relationships which was so notably absent in his two predecessors, Boris Johnson and Liz Truss. ”