Overview

Tremendous changes have taken place since the 1998 approval of the Good Friday Agreement (GFA) by an overwhelming majority of the populations in Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. After general acceptance of the GFA and various ceasefires by paramilitary organizations, Northern Ireland has experienced economic renewal. Nonetheless, political stability is still not fully realized and remains a key objective of U.S. policy towards Northern Ireland. Sectarian confrontation within Northern Ireland, or more commonly, isolation or voluntary segregation between the unionist and nationalist communities, remains a challenge to building a diverse society founded on tolerance, equal rights, and a commitment to nonviolent political means.