Power-sharing is a fundamental characteristic of the Northern Ireland government. It has been established as a strategy to ensure representation and prevent dominance by a single community.
The Good Friday Agreement of 1998 made provisions for power-sharing among parties in Northern Ireland. The aim was to eliminate any single party rule and give equal representation to both unionist and nationalist communities.
Parties in Northern Ireland must share executive power at both ministerial and prime ministerial levels. The roles of First Minister and Deputy First Minister are of equal standing as part of the power-sharing agreement.
The Assembly in Northern Ireland is also obliged to ensure cross-community consent on certain issues. This means that often, decisions require majority support from both unionist and nationalist members.

National Identity in Northern Ireland

National identity plays a pivotal role in Northern Irish politics due to the region’s history and its ties to both the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland.
Two distinct identities dominate: Unionists usually identify as British and are in favour of remaining part of the UK, while Nationalists, frequently identifying as Irish, aspire to a united Ireland.
The influence of national identity has shaped the party system in Northern Ireland. This has created a distinct scenario where many people vote based on their community’s affiliation rather than their stance on specific policy issues.
The issue of national identity also influences various policy areas such as education, housing, and the use of flags and emblems.

Consociationalism in Northern Ireland

Consociationalism is a form of power-sharing that tackles societal divisions. It advocates cooperative decision-making and guarantees representation for all significant communities within societies, particularly in societies with deep-seated divisions.
Northern Ireland’s government operates on this model, aiming to provide stability, prevent conflicts and ensure that all key communities have a say in policy decisions.
Under consociationalism, key decisions in Northern Ireland necessitate cross-community approval. This ensures that neither community (unionist or nationalist) can override the other.
This model, while facilitating peace and political stability, has faced critique for instigating communal politics and not fostering power-sharing among different social classes or other groupings.