A state under siege

The origins of Northern Ireland as a distinct entity are of great importance for the study of Irish history, the British constitution, and Anglo-Irish relations, but this subject has never been tackled in great depth. In this diligent and detailed account, Follis makes up for this oversight. He examines the turbulent early years of Northern Ireland, tracing its emergence and establishment and examining how it survived in the face of widespread communal violence, near bankruptcy, and political uncertainty, exacerbated by problematical relations with the governments in Westminster and Dublin. The highly controversial subject matter is carefully analysed, and if a particular standpoint emerges at its conclusion it is the result of an extremely lucid piece of research. This subject is of vital importance and relevance to anyone wishing to understand the current Northern Ireland problem.