The myth of polarisation in Northern Ireland: rethinking claims that instability is due to increased polarisation caused by power-sharing

Matthew Whiting and Stefan Bauchowitz argue that the assumption that power-sharing entrenches polarisation is not the reality that many think it is. By examining legislator voting records, speeches by party leaders, manifestos and public opinion data, they find that overall polarisation declined. They suggest that instability is instead caused by parties in Northern Ireland being encouraged by Westminster to adopt positions of brinksmanship as electoral strategies.