Huge progress has been made in Northern Ireland over recent years. As the headlines in the past few days demonstrate, however, we still have some way to go if we are to overcome the divisions in society and build a genuinely shared future.
The Government will of course continue to stand by the agreements made over the past two decades and the political institutions they have established…..In addition the Government will maintain the utmost pressure on those who resort to terrorism and violence to pursue their objectives.
So I look forward to working with the Executive, political parties and people from right across the community to build a stable, peaceful and prosperous Northern Ireland for everyone. This is a great opportunity which I relish.
– Theresa Villiers, on her appointment as Northern Ireland Secretary – September 2012.
This semester, we'll explore historical and contemporary aspects of conflict in Northern Ireland, including background to the conflict, key issues and events, and the peace process, and we'll share research and reflections, and provide collaborative resources for further study and discussion.