International Journal of Humanities Social Science and Management (IJHSSM) Volume 5, Issue 1, Jan.-Feb., 2025, pp: 841-851 ISSN: 3048-6874 www.ijhssm.org | Impact Factor value 7.52 | ISO 9001: 2008 Certified Journal Page 841 The impact of Brexit on the security of Northern Ireland. A case study. Prof. Aleksander Głogowski PhD, DSc, --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Date of Submission: 12-02-2025 Date of Acceptance: 24-02-2025 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Abstract: The purpose of this article is to present the already observed and possible threats to Northern Ireland as a result of the United Kingdom's decision to leave the European Union. The analysis will focus mainly on the socio-political and potentially paramilitary/terrorist dimensions, and to a lesser extent on the economic dimension, although of course this factor is also very important here. The author will not present in detail the reasons for the referendum on leaving the EU by the United Kingdom or the positions of the major parties represented in Westminster, as this would exceed the size of a scientific article. It will focus strictly on Northern Ireland, and the positions of the central government in London, as well as the government of the Republic of Ireland, will be treated marginally, only to the extent necessary to understand the problem. Keywords: Northern Ireland, United Kingdom, Republic of Ireland, Brexit The purpose of this article is to outline the risks already observed, and possible risks, resulting from the UK's decision to leave the European Union for Northern Ireland. The analysis will focus on the socio-political and potentially paramilitary/terrorist dimensions, and to a lesser extent on the economic dimension, although of course this factor is also very relevant here. The author will not detail the reasons for the UK's referendum to leave the EU or the positions of the major parties represented at Westminster, as this would exceed the size of an academic article. The discussion will focus strictly on Northern Ireland, and the positions of the central government in London as well as the government of the Republic of Ireland will be treated marginally here, only to the extent necessary to understand the issue at hand. The primary sources for research into the above issues are statistical data, newspaper 1 https://www.sinnfein.ie/irish-unity 2 https://mydup.com/policies/policy-consultations articles and participant observation. The author has chosen to examine these independently, without reference to existing studies, in order to maintain the maximum research distance from the subject under study, which by its very nature is difficult to demand of authors who are directly affected by the events in which they, as citizens of the United Kingdom and/or Ireland, participate. The items of their authorship are, of course, known to the author and will be listed in the bibliography, but he has endeavoured to carry out the search independently and draw his own conclusions. During the referendum campaign, Northern Ireland's main political parties were forced to take a position on this important issue, although to date, despite key differences, the largest parties have taken Eurosceptic or at best Eurorealist positions. Representing the republican (predominantly Catholic) section of the Northern Ireland population, the Sinn Fein party has as a core point of its programme the desire to unite all the counties of Ireland in one state - the Republic of Ireland 1 . However, its left-wing, socialist agenda on social issues makes it critical of both Brussels and Dublin policies. However, when confronted with the need to make a case for what de jure future Northern Ireland remains, its leaders have chosen to advocate remaining in the European Union, seeing the status quo as a tool to foster the fundamental goal of a united Ireland. In contrast, the main party of supporters of Northern Ireland remaining part of the UK is the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP, a grouping representing radical Protestants) 2 . This formation supported the UK's exit from the European Union, presenting the same 'sovereignty' argument used by Brexit supporters within the ranks of London's ruling Conservative Party. Significantly, the moderate unionist party, the Ulster Unionist Party (UUP), left the question of voting for or against to the discretion of its constituents 3 . Unsurprisingly, both parties did not present their voters with the true, real- world consequences of their choice, as even 3 https://www.uup.org/manifestos