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A decade after the UK entered into a rushed referendum that polarised the country and caused disorder, a caution is issued from across the Irish Sea: it could happen again.

Authorities and voters entered unwittingly Brexit and the same might transpire with a national vote on a unified Ireland, initiating upheavals for which no one is ready.

That is the message from two prominent journalists from each side of the Irish border who have joined forces to examine the pros and cons of Northern Ireland leaving the UK to form a new state with the Republic of Ireland.

Governmental Structures Not Ready

Fintan O’Toole and The Northern Ireland editor, have found that the administrative systems in Ireland and Britain are woefully unready for a possibly tense and seismic referendum.

"The lesson of Brexit has gone unabsorbed, which is that developments can come out of the blue and can build support very quickly," O’Toole said. "I would suggest that the governmental framework of our islands remains very unstable."

New Title Seeks to Provoke Discussion

The pair have analysed the political, financial and cultural rationales for any structural alteration in a book, Examining Irish Unification, released by the Dublin-based Royal Irish Academy.

They aim to encourage dialogue on the matter with a series of lectures that will lead them to Westminster soon.

"What haunts everybody, or should haunt all involved, is the Brexit referendum of 2016," commented the analyst.

"We do not want a referendum on a binary, vague proposition whose results have not been spelled out because then you land with an extraordinarily divided society where people who have lost are resistant to defeat and the people who have won are uncertain exactly what it is that they have gained."

Constitutional Provision

Under the peace accord, the Northern Ireland government minister should call a referendum on Irish unification if it appears likely that a majority would vote in favour.

Nationalist parties and other pro-unification groups claim that moment is imminent, and a organisation named Ireland’s Future has garnered backing, but authorities in Dublin and London and pro-UK factions play down the prospect, leaving it unclear whether or when there might be a national vote.

Insufficient Informed Dialogue

Political rhetoric for and against unification has masked the shortage of serious debate, stated McBride.

"Many are supportive or opposed the idea but the actual thinking which could extend past that to achieve it has largely not occurred. Much has gone on in universities but scarcely any government figures or advocates want to engage with even the essentials. To illustrate, which kind of country should be desired? Unitary? Decentralised?"

Volume's Strategy

In the publication, none of the commentators supports unification or the existing arrangement. Both writes two pieces that strive for impartiality in presenting the rationale for a unified Ireland and the argument opposing it, assembling economic and societal figures, past examples and structural examples.

Debates cover flags and symbols, levies, health services, pensions, sovereign debt obligations and the threat of loyalist violence. The objective is to educate and provoke conversation.

"There is significant curiosity in the subject but there hasn't quite been a dialogue," said the writer. "Dialogue implies an acknowledgement of the concept that there may exist valid points on each side."

Parallel Votes

A referendum in Northern Ireland would additionally cause one in the republic, where citizens claim they prefer unity but oppose increased taxation or adopting a different emblem to acknowledge pro-UK communities' UK heritage.

"The Irish government must establish what the plan from nationalist groups is other than just stating: 'We seek a unified Ireland and we welcome you'," stated the commentator.

Likelihood of Referendum

McBride believes a national vote in his era is probable and that it could happen abruptly. "There might be just a reckless or a poor or a negligent secretary of state who says: 'We should proceed and resolve it.'"

Both pro-unification advocates and pro-UK supporters have credible, valid arguments, he said. "One side will prevail on this issue and the other side will eventually be defeated but both parties has possesses something to acquire from the other's positions."

Appeal for Broader Dialogue

Westminster needed to engage with the dialogue, stated the analyst. "This concerns Britain. It is a British issue equally as it is an Irish question."