Whether or not Britain leaves the European Union (EU) on October 31 with or without a deal, with or without an extension, Prime Minister Boris Johnson is playing a game of political poker with Ireland as the joker in the pack. The island of Ireland is split between the Irish Republic (a keen member of the EU) and Northern Ireland which is part of the UK.
Physical customs checks post-Brexit between the two Irelands – or on the Irish Sea between mainland Britain and Northern Ireland – will almost certainly revive sectarian hostility between Catholic Irish Republic and Protestant-majority Northern Ireland. Those hostilities led to terror attacks and violence between Catholics and Protestants in Northern Ireland for decades, claiming thousands of lives. Former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher narrowly escaped an assassination attempt by the Irish Republican Army (IRA) during a Tory party conference at a Brighton hotel in 1984. The violence subsided after the “Good Friday” agreement in 1998 that formed a power-sharing compact in Northern Ireland between warring Protestants (who want to stay with the UK) and Catholics (who want reunification of the two Irelands).
Irish Republic Prime Minister Leo Varadkar (whose father Ashok is Indian) holds the key to whether Boris Johnson’s Brexit plan floats or sinks. Brexit is hostage to history. Before 1707, England was a mid-sized European power, constantly at war not only with France and Spain but also with Scotland, then an independent nation to its north. The United Kingdom did not exist. In 1707, the separate kingdoms of England and Scotland merged to form the “United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland”.
Denne historien er fra October 26, 2019-utgaven av Businessworld.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent ? Logg på
Denne historien er fra October 26, 2019-utgaven av Businessworld.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
Is Leadership Without Hierarchies Possible?
LEADERSHIP IN THE current era is more challenging than ever before.
The Rise and Evolution of Coffee Culture in India
AS A BANGALORE native, South Indian filter ‘Kaapi’ has always been a significant part of our tradition.
The Daily Ground Goes Desi
Success in Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities hinges on several key factors, with one of the most important being the ability to offer high-quality products at an accessible price point
Cracking The Indian Code
TARUN JAIN, CEO of Tim Hortons India believes in creating an experience at cafes by blending global quality, local flavours and affordability
Making Coffee the New Chai in India
Affordable, great-tasting coffee made fast-abCoffee is reshaping how India drinks coffee
Scripting A New Era Of Coffee In India
From a bootstrapped startup to international expansion, NOTHING BEFORE COFFEE is brewing its way to the top by challenging the giants of the coffee industry with innovation, personalisation, and sustainability
"Driven By A Younger Demographic, Coffee Culture Is On The Upswing"
SUNIL D'SOUZA, Managing Director and CEO of Tata Consumer Products, discusses the company's strategic growth in India's booming coffee market, focusing on premiumisation, innovation, and expanding consumer experiences both at home and in cafés, in this exclusive conversation with BW Businessworld's Tarannum Manjul
Fresh Brew, Big Ambitions
From startups to stores, Beanly's Samayesh Khanna and Rahul Jain elevate India's coffee culture by making freshly brewed coffee a daily delight
"On Track To Become India's Top Café Chain"
In an exclusive interview, RAJAT AGRAWAL, CEO of Barista Coffee, shared insights on the company's current market position, expansion strategies, and its response to growing competition
"Ensuring A Seamless Coffee Experience Outside The Cafe Is The Next Big Thing To Watch Out For"
In an exclusive conversation with BW Businessworld's Resham Suhail, Third Wave Coffee CEO RAJAT LUTHRA and its Co-founder AYUSH BATHWAL delve on how they are navigating the competitive landscape, going beyond retail and tapping changing consumer preferences