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A decade following the UK stumbled into a hurried public vote that polarised the nation and unleashed chaos, a warning is issued from beyond the Irish Sea: it could happen again.

The government and voters entered unwittingly Brexit and the same could occur with a national vote on a united Ireland, initiating disturbances for which nobody is prepared.

That represents the warning from two respected commentators from both sides of the Irish border who have joined forces to examine the advantages and disadvantages of Northern Ireland departing the UK to establish a fresh nation with the Republic of Ireland.

Governmental Structures Not Ready

Fintan O’Toole and Sam McBride, have found that the administrative systems in Ireland and Britain are gravely unprepared for a possibly tense and transformative referendum.

"The lesson of Brexit hasn't been learned, which is that stuff can come out of the blue and can gather momentum rapidly," O’Toole said. "In my opinion that the institutional structure of our region remains highly fragile."

New Title Seeks to Encourage Dialogue

The pair have analysed the governmental, financial and cultural reasons for any constitutional change in a volume, For and Against a United Ireland, published by the Irish Royal Irish Academy.

They seek to stir debate on the matter with a series of speaking events that will bring them to Westminster soon.

"What concerns everybody, or ought to concern all involved, is the Brexit vote of 2016," stated the analyst.

"We should prevent a national vote on a binary, vague proposition whose implications have not been clarified because then you find yourself with an highly polarised community where people who have lost are unable to accept defeat and the people who have won lack clarity quite what it is that they have gained."

Legal Framework

Under the peace accord, the Northern Ireland secretary of state is obliged to schedule a public vote on Irish unification if it is indicated that a most voters would approve.

Sinn Féin and other pro-unification groups claim such a time is looming, and a group called Ireland’s Future has rallied support, but both governments and unionists minimise the prospect, resulting in ambiguity whether or when there will be a national vote.

Absence of Substantive Discussion

Ideological statements for and against unification has obscured the lack of serious debate, noted McBride.

"People tend to be supportive or opposed the notion but the detailed consideration which could extend past that to achieve it is mostly absent. A great deal has gone on in universities but hardly any politicians or activists want to engage with even the basics. To illustrate, which kind of country should be desired? Centralised? Decentralised?"

Book's Approach

In the volume, none of the commentators supports unity or the status quo. Each authors two articles that seek impartiality in laying out the argument for a unified Ireland and the case opposing it, assembling economic and social statistics, previous instances and constitutional models.

Debates encompass national emblems, levies, medical care, pensions, national debt responsibilities and the danger of pro-UK militancy. The goal is to inform and provoke dialogue.

"There is significant curiosity in the subject but there hasn't quite been a discussion," stated the writer. "Debate indicates an acknowledgement of the concept that there may exist reasonable perspectives on both sides."

Dual Referendums

A referendum in Northern Ireland would simultaneously prompt one in the Republic of Ireland, where citizens claim they favour unity but refuse greater financial contributions or adopting a different emblem to acknowledge unionists' British culture.

"Authorities in Dublin must work out what the offer from pro-unification movements is beyond just declaring: 'We want a unified Ireland and we welcome you'," said O’Toole.

Possibility of Referendum

The journalist thinks a referendum in his era is possible and that it may take place suddenly. "You could have just a reckless or a poor or a incompetent government minister who states: 'Let us proceed and resolve it.'"

Both pro-unification advocates and unionists have plausible, legitimate points, he commented. "Somebody will succeed on this issue and somebody will eventually lose but both parties has possesses important lessons to acquire from the alternative arguments."

Call for More Extensive Debate

Westminster should engage with the debate, urged the analyst. "This is about your state. It's a British question equally as it is an Irish question."