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Ten years after the UK embarked on a hurried public vote that divided the nation and caused disorder, a caution emerges from beyond the Irish Sea: it might repeat.

Authorities and voters entered unwittingly Brexit and the identical may happen with a national vote on a united Ireland, triggering disturbances for which no one is ready.

That is the message from two prominent journalists from either side of the Irish border who have teamed up to examine the pros and cons of Northern Ireland leaving the UK to form a different country with the Republic of Ireland.

Governmental Establishments Unprepared

The author and columnist and The Northern Ireland editor, have concluded that the government bodies in Ireland and Britain are woefully unprepared for a possibly tense and transformative public vote.

"The crucial insight of Brexit hasn't been learned, which is that stuff can emerge unexpectedly and can gather momentum very quickly," the commentator stated. "In my opinion that the governmental framework of our region remains very unstable."

Released Volume Aims to Provoke Discussion

The team have analysed the political, economic and societal reasons for any governmental shift in a volume, Examining Irish Unification, issued by the Dublin-based Royal Irish Academy.

They aim to stir debate on the topic with a tour of speaking events that will lead them to Westminster early next month.

"What troubles everybody, or ought to concern all involved, is the Brexit referendum of 2016," commented the analyst.

"We must avoid a national vote on a yes-no, vague proposition whose consequences have not been clarified because then you end up with an extremely split population where the losing side are resistant to losing and the those successful don't know quite what it is that they have achieved."

Governmental Mandate

Under the peace accord, the Northern Ireland official should call a public vote on Irish unification if it seems probable that a majority would approve.

Nationalist parties and other nationalists say that moment is imminent, and a group named Ireland’s Future has garnered backing, but authorities in Dublin and London and pro-UK factions play down the possibility, making it uncertain if and when there might be a referendum.

Insufficient Substantive Discussion

Partisan language supporting and opposing unity has masked the absence of informed dialogue, stated McBride.

"Many are supportive or opposed the concept but the concrete planning which may surpass that to realise it hasn't for the most part happened. A lot has occurred in universities but scarcely any government figures or campaigners want to engage with the basics. To illustrate, what type of nation should be desired? Centralised? Federal?"

Volume's Strategy

In the publication, none of the commentators supports unity or the status quo. Both authors two articles that strive for objectivity in laying out the case for a unified Ireland and the rationale opposing it, assembling economic and societal statistics, previous instances and structural examples.

Discussions cover identity markers, levies, healthcare systems, elderly benefits, sovereign debt obligations and the danger of loyalist violence. The aim is to educate and provoke conversation.

"There is significant curiosity in the issue but there hasn't quite been a discussion," stated the writer. "Debate suggests an acknowledgement of the concept that there could be reasonable perspectives on both sides."

Parallel Votes

A referendum in Northern Ireland would additionally cause one in the Republic of Ireland, where the electorate say they favour unity but refuse greater financial contributions or adopting a alternative symbol to acknowledge unionists' UK heritage.

"The Irish government should work out what the plan from pro-unification movements is beyond just saying: 'We seek a united Ireland and we love you'," stated the commentator.

Likelihood of Public Vote

McBride thinks a referendum in his lifetime is probable and that it might occur suddenly. "You could have just a reckless or a ill-advised or a feckless official who declares: 'Let us proceed and resolve it.'"

Each of the pro-unification advocates and pro-UK supporters have reasonable, justified perspectives, he commented. "One side will succeed in this matter and somebody will in the end not succeed but both parties has has valuable insights to learn from the alternative arguments."

Call for More Extensive Discussion

Westminster must engage with the dialogue, said the analyst. "This is about Britain. It is a British question equally as it is an Irish matter."