But a real peace process needs people who are willing to take that risk. It is surprising to see what a disarming effect innocence can sometimes have on the other party. In addition to leadership, we need institutional guarantees, again according to Sissela Bok. The Good Friday agreement provides institutional guarantees. It neither represents nor was intended to represent any agreement at the substantive level.
Unionists are still unionists and nationalists are still nationalists.
What they have acquired are institutions for the peaceful resolution of conflicts. Permit me a brief parallel with our own experience. In 1814, Norway was forced into a union with Sweden. War broke out on Norwegian soil between the Norwegian peasant army and the professional Swedish army which had returned from the continent after helping to defeat Napoleon. The fighting in Norway was brought to an end when the great powers intervened.