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A decade following the UK entered into a hasty referendum that divided the nation and unleashed chaos, a caution is issued from across the Irish Sea: it could happen again.

The government and voters entered unwittingly Brexit and the similar may happen with a national vote on a united Ireland, initiating upheavals for which no one is ready.

That represents the warning from two leading journalists from either side of the Irish border who have teamed up to examine the pros and cons of Northern Ireland leaving the UK to create a different country with the Republic of Ireland.

Governmental Institutions Unprepared

Fintan O’Toole and The Northern Ireland editor, have determined that the government bodies in Ireland and Britain are extremely ill-prepared for a possibly tense and seismic referendum.

"The key takeaway of Brexit has gone unabsorbed, which is that stuff can come out of the blue and can gather momentum swiftly," O’Toole remarked. "I would suggest that the political architecture of our archipelago remains highly fragile."

Book Publication Seeks to Provoke Discussion

The pair have studied the political, financial and societal arguments for any structural alteration in a publication, For and Against a United Ireland, issued by the Irish Royal Irish Academy.

They aim to encourage dialogue on the issue with a roadshow of public talks that will bring them to Westminster in the coming weeks.

"What concerns all parties, or should haunt all involved, is the Brexit referendum of 2016," stated the analyst.

"We do not want a referendum on a binary, vague proposition whose implications have not been spelled out because then you land with an extremely split population where the losing side are unable to accept defeat and the people who have won don't know quite what it is that they have won."

Legal Framework

Under the peace accord, the Northern Ireland government minister should call a referendum on Irish unification if it seems probable that a most voters would approve.

Nationalist parties and other pro-unification groups claim this point is looming, and a non-profit named pro-unification advocates has garnered backing, but both governments and pro-UK factions minimise the prospect, making it uncertain if and when there could be a referendum.

Absence of Informed Dialogue

Political rhetoric supporting and opposing unity has obscured the lack of informed dialogue, said the journalist.

"Many are supportive or opposed the notion but the actual thinking which may surpass that to make it possible hasn't for the most part happened. A great deal has gone on in scholarly circles but scarcely any elected officials or activists want to engage even with the fundamentals. To illustrate, which kind of country would you want? Unitary? Federal?"

Book's Approach

In the book, none of the commentators advocates unity or the existing arrangement. They composes two pieces that aim for neutrality in presenting the rationale for a united Ireland and the case opposing it, marshalling economic and social statistics, past examples and constitutional models.

Debates cover national emblems, duties, health services, pensions, public liabilities and the risk of loyalist violence. The aim is to enlighten and stimulate discussion.

"Considerable attention exists in the issue but there is still lacking a discussion," stated the writer. "Dialogue indicates an acknowledgement of the idea that there might be reasonable perspectives on either side."

Simultaneous Plebiscites

A public vote in Northern Ireland would also trigger one in the republic, where citizens say they favour unity but oppose increased taxation or introducing a different emblem to acknowledge pro-UK communities' British culture.

"Authorities in Dublin should establish what the proposal from Irish nationalism is aside from just stating: 'We seek a unified Ireland and we love you'," remarked O’Toole.

Possibility of Public Vote

The journalist believes a referendum in his era is likely and that it may take place abruptly. "It is possible just a mad or a poor or a incompetent official who says: 'Let's just do this and get it out of the way.'"

Each of the nationalists and pro-UK supporters have credible, justified points, he stated. "Somebody will prevail on this issue and the other side will ultimately not succeed but all factions has has important lessons to learn from the alternative viewpoints."

Appeal for Wider Dialogue

Westminster must engage with the dialogue, said O’Toole. "This is about your state. It is a UK matter as much as it is an Irish matter."