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Ten years after the UK entered into a hurried referendum that divided the country and caused chaos, a caution emerges from beyond the Irish Sea: it might repeat.

The government and voters sleepwalked into Brexit and the similar might transpire with a referendum on a unified Ireland, initiating disturbances for which nobody is equipped.

That represents the warning from two respected writers from each side of the Irish border who have joined forces to examine the advantages and disadvantages of Northern Ireland leaving the UK to establish a different country with the Republic of Ireland.

Administrative Structures Ill-Equipped

The author and columnist and Sam McBride, have found that the government bodies in Ireland and Britain are woefully unready for a potentially tense and transformative referendum.

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

New Title Aims to Stir Debate

The duo have examined the political, economic and societal rationales for any structural alteration in a volume, Examining Irish Unification, published by the Dublin-based Royal Irish Academy.

They hope to provoke discussion on the matter with a series of speaking events that will take them to Westminster in the coming weeks.

"What haunts everybody, or must worry every person, is the Brexit referendum of 2016," commented the analyst.

"We do not want a national vote on a binary, unclear proposal whose consequences have not been clarified because then you land with an highly polarised community where those defeated are unable to accept defeat and the people who have won lack clarity precisely what it is that they have achieved."

Constitutional Provision

Under the Belfast Agreement, the Northern Ireland secretary of state is obliged to schedule a public vote on Irish unification if it seems probable that a most voters would vote in favour.

Nationalist parties and other nationalists say that moment is approaching, and a organisation named pro-unification advocates has built momentum, but authorities in Dublin and London and pro-UK factions downplay the possibility, making it uncertain whether or when there might be a referendum.

Insufficient Substantive Discussion

Partisan language for and against unification has masked the absence of substantive discussion, stated the journalist.

"Many are for or against the idea but the actual thinking which could extend past that to realise it hasn't for the most part happened. A great deal has taken place in academia but scarcely any elected officials or activists want to engage with the essentials. For instance, what type of nation would you want? Centralised? Federal?"

Book's Approach

In the volume, none of the commentators endorses unification or the existing arrangement. Each writes two articles that aim for objectivity in presenting the argument for a united Ireland and the rationale opposing it, assembling economic and societal statistics, historical precedents and constitutional models.

Arguments encompass identity markers, levies, health services, retirement funds, public liabilities and the danger of unionist unrest. The goal is to educate and stimulate discussion.

"Considerable attention exists in the topic but there has not yet occurred a debate," commented O’Toole. "Discussion indicates an acknowledgement of the notion that there might be reasonable perspectives on each side."

Dual Referendums

A referendum in Northern Ireland would also trigger one in the republic, where the electorate say they prefer unity but reject greater financial contributions or introducing a different emblem to acknowledge unionists' British culture.

"Policymakers in Ireland must determine what the proposal from nationalist groups is beyond just declaring: 'We desire a united Ireland and we value you'," stated O’Toole.

Likelihood of Referendum

The journalist believes a referendum in his generation is likely and that it may take place suddenly. "There might be just a reckless or a ill-advised or a feckless government minister who declares: 'Let's just do this and resolve it.'"

Each of the nationalists and pro-UK supporters have credible, valid points, he commented. "Somebody will win here and somebody will in the end be defeated but both parties has possesses something to acquire from the opposing positions."

Appeal for More Extensive Dialogue

Westminster must participate in the discussion, stated O’Toole. "This concerns Britain. It is a British issue as much as it is an Irish issue."