Many important lessons have come out of the negotiations for the Belfast Agreement. This book explains how public opinion polls were used in support of the Northern Ireland peace process. Significantly, it was the politicians who decided the questions so that they could map out areas of compromise and common ground that their supporters would accept. This book explains how the work was done so that others can apply the benefits of this experience to their own peace building activities.

'I recommend this book to all those involved with peacemaking and peacebuilding, political negotiations and public opinion polls, as well as those with a particular interest in Northern Ireland. Dr Irwin worked closely with the Northern Ireland political parties during the final critical years of the Stormont Talks and my Review and I am persuaded that the unique approach he developed of running public opinion polls in cooperation with party negotiators contributed significantly to the successful outcome of our efforts.' - Senator George J.Mitchell

List of Figures
List of Tables
Preface
Acknowledgements
Glossary and Abbreviations
Introduction
PART I: PUBLIC OPINION POLLS AND PEACE PROCESSES
Political Negotiations and Public Opinion Polls
The Calculus of Agreement
The Drafting of Consensus and the Decommissioning Story
Polling as Peace Building
PART II: THE NORTHERN IRELAND PEACE POLLS
Peace Building and Public Policy
After the Elections
The Stormont Talks
In Search of a Settlement
A Comprehensive Settlement
Implementation of the Belfast Agreement
The Mitchell Review
The Future of the Peace Process
Conclusion
Appendix: Sample Questionnaire
Notes
References
Selected Bibliography
Index

COLIN IRWIN is a Research Fellow at the Institute of Irish Studies, Queen's University, Belfast and was the principle investigator on the project Peace Building and Public Policy in Northern Ireland funded by the Joseph Rowntree Charitable Trust. Most recently, as part of the Northern Ireland Peace Process, he conducted seven public opinion polls in collaboration with the political parties elected to take part in the Stormont Talks.