Britain, Northern Ireland and the EU

About this course

The course traces developments from EEC membership in 1973 through the Anglo-Irish Agreement, the Belfast/Good Friday Agreement, Brexit, the Northern Ireland Protocol and the Windsor Framework. It considers how these events have affected trade, cross-border cooperation, constitutional questions and political identities. Tutor-led talks provide the context, while discussions invite participants to examine competing interpretations and current UK-EU relations. The course also considers the implications of the UK’s recent efforts to reset its relationship with the EU and the possible future of the Union.

What you'll learn

• Explain how EEC and EU membership influenced British and Irish policy towards Northern Ireland.
• Identify the significance of major legal and political agreements across the period covered.
• Analyse constitutional and economic issues arising from Brexit in Northern Ireland.
• Evaluate contemporary debates about sovereignty, identity and post-Brexit UK-EU relations.

Is this course right for you?

The course is designed for newcomers as well as learners with some existing background knowledge. It involves tutor-led teaching and active participation in group discussions, including constructive engagement with differing views on sensitive political issues. A good grasp of English is needed to follow the course.

• Suitable for learners approaching the subject for the first time.
• Requires respectful participation in discussions involving contested viewpoints.

Before you go

• Learners may wish to bring a pen and paper or a digital equivalent for taking notes.