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Ten years after the UK entered into a hurried referendum that split the country and caused chaos, a caution emerges from across the Irish Sea: it could happen again.

Authorities and voters drifted into Brexit and the similar may happen with a national vote on a united Ireland, triggering disturbances for which nobody is ready.

That represents the warning from two prominent journalists from each side of the Irish border who have joined forces to analyse the advantages and disadvantages of Northern Ireland exiting the UK to establish a different country with the Republic of Ireland.

Governmental Structures Ill-Equipped

Fintan O’Toole and The Northern Ireland editor, have determined that the administrative systems in Ireland and Britain are woefully unready for a possibly tense and monumental public vote.

"The crucial insight of Brexit remains unheeded, which is that events can arise suddenly and can gather momentum very quickly," O’Toole said. "It is my view that the governmental framework of our archipelago remains highly fragile."

New Title Seeks to Encourage Dialogue

The duo have analysed the political, economic and cultural reasons for any structural alteration in a volume, Examining Irish Unification, published by the Irish Royal Irish Academy.

They hope to provoke discussion on the topic with a series of speaking events that will bring them to Westminster in the coming weeks.

"What troubles all parties, or ought to concern everybody, is the Brexit referendum of 2016," said the analyst.

"We do not want a referendum on a binary, ambiguous question whose results have remained undefined because then you land with an extremely split population where people who have lost are not reconciled to losing and the victorious side lack clarity exactly what it is that they have gained."

Governmental Mandate

Under the Belfast Agreement, the Northern Ireland government minister should call a public vote on Irish unification if it seems probable that a majority would vote in favour.

Sinn Féin and other pro-unification groups claim such a time is imminent, and a organisation called pro-unification advocates has rallied support, but both governments and pro-UK factions minimise the possibility, leaving it unclear if and when there could be a national vote.

Insufficient Informed Dialogue

Partisan language for and against unification has masked the lack of serious debate, stated the journalist.

"People tend to be supportive or opposed the idea but the actual thinking which might go beyond that to achieve it has largely not occurred. Much has taken place in universities but hardly any government figures or campaigners want to engage with the essentials. For instance, what type of nation would you want? Unitary? Decentralised?"

Publication's Method

In the book, no writer endorses unity or the existing arrangement. They composes two pieces that strive for neutrality in laying out the argument for a united Ireland and the argument against, marshalling financial and social statistics, past examples and constitutional models.

Arguments cover flags and symbols, duties, healthcare systems, elderly benefits, sovereign debt obligations and the danger of pro-UK militancy. The aim is to educate and stimulate dialogue.

"There is significant curiosity in the topic but there is still lacking a debate," commented the writer. "Debate implies an acknowledgement of the idea that there may exist reasonable perspectives on each side."

Simultaneous Plebiscites

A public vote in Northern Ireland would simultaneously prompt one in the republic, where voters claim they support unity but refuse paying higher taxes or adopting a new flag to acknowledge pro-UK communities' British identity.

"Authorities in Dublin should work out what the proposal from nationalist groups is aside from just stating: 'We seek a united Ireland and we love you'," stated O’Toole.

Possibility of Referendum

McBride thinks a national vote in his generation is possible and that it could happen suddenly. "It is possible just a reckless or a bad or a incompetent government minister who states: 'Let us proceed and settle the matter.'"

Each of the nationalists and pro-UK supporters have credible, valid perspectives, he stated. "Somebody will prevail in this matter and the other side will in the end lose but both parties has got important lessons to gain from the alternative positions."

Request for Wider Discussion

Westminster should join the discussion, stated O’Toole. "This is about your state. It's a British issue equally as it is an Irish issue."