SUNNINGDALE AND THE EEC

Abstract

The troubles in Northern Ireland are a widely researched subject especially the various attempts to end the conflict. One such attempt was the Sunningdale agreement of 1973 which occurred almost simultaneously with the accession of the UK and Republic of Ireland to the EEC. Previous research concerning Sunningdale has primarily focused on the nations involved and the political parties involved. This thesis, instead, explores the impact of the EEC on the Sunningdale agreement of 1973. To this end, this thesis utilises qualitative interpretative text analysis [JN1.1]of archival material, and shelter theory as a theoretical framework. The archival material utilised consists of a variety of documents, such as, policy documents, memoranda, as well as transcripts of meetings and speeches. The findings of this thesis are that the EEC did provide different kinds of shelter to the Republic of Ireland in regard to its negotiations with the UK. The shelter provided primarily consisted of Societal and Economic shelter. Further this thesis also finds that the EEC acted as a source of inspiration for the Sunningdale agreement and as an important factor in creating incentives for greater cooperation between the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland. The relevancy of this thesis, as a part of the field of European studies, resides in the understanding of the EEC role as a provider of shelter and as a source of inspiration.