Home Categories About
argument top image
Should there be a united Ireland? Should there be a united Ireland?
Yes, Ireland should be united Yes, Ireland should be united
No, Northern Ireland should remain part of the United Kingdom No, Northern Ireland should remain part of the United Kingdom
Northern Ireland should become its own independent country Northern Ireland should become its own independent country
Ireland should be united as part of the United Kingdom Ireland should be united as part of the United Kingdom
A united Ireland would allow Northern Ireland to have a greater voice A united Ireland would allow Northern Ireland to have a greater voice
Brexit has made a united Ireland necessary Brexit has made a united Ireland necessary
It would streamline Ireland's economy It would streamline Ireland's economy
Ireland is one nation and should be one sovereign state Ireland is one nation and should be one sovereign state
British rule in Ireland was never legitimate British rule in Ireland was never legitimate
The majority of people in Ireland as a whole support it The majority of people in Ireland as a whole support it
Britain doesn't care about Northern Ireland Britain doesn't care about Northern Ireland
The Northern Irish people want to be part of the UK The Northern Irish people want to be part of the UK
It would disrupt the hard-won peace It would disrupt the hard-won peace
It would be giving in to the IRA It would be giving in to the IRA
Northern Ireland is too expensive for Ireland to administer Northern Ireland is too expensive for Ireland to administer
Brexit showed the dangers of major change by referendum Brexit showed the dangers of major change by referendum
Neither Britain or Ireland have Northern Irish interests at heart Neither Britain or Ireland have Northern Irish interests at heart
Northern Ireland has its own distinct culture Northern Ireland has its own distinct culture
All of Ireland would be stronger as part of the UK All of Ireland would be stronger as part of the UK
Debate Mini Map

Should there be a united Ireland?
Back to question

Yes, Ireland should be united

(1 of 4) Next position >

Ireland is one nation and should be one sovereign state

The people of Ireland are one nation and so Ireland should be united
< (4 of 7) Next argument >

Context

The people of Ireland are one group with a shared culture and history that is clearly distinct from Britain's

The Argument

Irish culture is distinct from British culture. The people of Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland are culturally identical. They share the Irish language and share phrases within the English language. If sovereign states are determined by national, ethnic and cultural groups, then Ireland should be united as a single sovereign state due to its shared culture.

Counter arguments

Northern Irish unionists are a distinct cultural group. They do not speak Irish, they do not partake in most parts of Irish culture and they have a strong culture of their own with its own traditions and linguistic dialect. As a result, Ireland's people are not one nation and are in fact two.

Premises

[P1] Sovereign states are determined by cultural, national and ethnic groups. [P2] Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland share a single culture. [P3] England and Northern Ireland do not share a culture. [P4] Therefore, Ireland should be a single, united, sovereign state.

Rejecting the premises

[Rejecting P2] Northern Irish Unionist do not share a culture with Irish Republicans. Therefore, they should be distinct sovereign territories.

References

This page was last edited on Friday, 6 Dec 2019 at 15:25 UTC

Explore related arguments