Consequences

Part 1

The Ulster Workers Council strike brought down the executive and the Sunningdale experiment failed in its attempt to find a solution to the increasingly devastating Northern Ireland problem. As the testimonies below demonstrate, much debate remains as to the consequences of this collapse, how it was perceived within the Nationalist community, and whether or not it should be considered as a victory for Unionism. 

Part 2

Taking the analysis further, the following section provides an insight into the diversity of perspectives on key questions on how this pivotal episode should be interpreted: Why did the Sunningdale experiment fail? Was it a missed opportunity for Northern Ireland? What does the idea that the 1998 Good Friday/Belfast Agreement was ‘Sunningdale for slow learners’ really mean?