On The Signing, Content And Significance Of The "Belfast Agreement"

The Troubles is a long-standing problem,which is among the hardest problems for the UK government.From the 1970s,the British and Irish government started cooperating for a peaceful resolution to end the regional unrest,and it is the starting point for the Norther Ireland peace process.Adopted in 1998,the Belfast Agreement brought to an end over three decades of armed conflict in Northern Ireland.In the context of Northern Ireland peace process,this paper would illustrate the negotiation on easing conflict and promoting the peace process among British government and Irish government,parties in Northern Ireland and American government.Besides,this paper would comprehensively analyze the Belfast Agreement and evaluate it to take a deep understanding of it.There are four chapters and conclusion part in the main body.The first chapter,"the Origins and Development of the Troubles”,which overviews the British colonial activities in Ireland,exploring the causes of the Troubles,and depicts the development of the Troubles and the initial solutions before the 1990s.The second chapter,“Signing the Belfast Agreemen",focuses the negotiations among multiple-parties,analyzing the negotiation process during the 1990s among the British government,Irish government and parties in Northern Ireland and the efforts of Clinton government for signing the peace agreement.Next chapter,"an Overview of the Belfast Agreement",discusses the framework of the agreement,as well as the content about the new democratic institutions,decommission,and human rights protection in the agreement.The last chapter,"the success and failure of the Belfast Agreement",evaluates the agreement and discusses the lessons from the Northern Ireland peace process.The conclusion part emphasizes that negotiation and compromise are the requirements to achieve a peace deal.