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Ten years after the UK entered into a rushed referendum that polarised the country and caused chaos, a caution emerges from beyond the Irish Sea: it might repeat.

The government and citizens sleepwalked into Brexit and the similar might transpire with a national vote on a united Ireland, triggering disturbances for which no one is prepared.

That is the message from two prominent journalists from both sides of the Irish border who have collaborated to analyse the advantages and disadvantages of Northern Ireland exiting the UK to form a new state with the Republic of Ireland.

Governmental Institutions Not Ready

Fintan O’Toole and Sam McBride, have determined that the government bodies in Ireland and Britain are gravely unready for a potentially fraught and monumental referendum.

"The key takeaway of Brexit has gone unabsorbed, which is that developments can emerge unexpectedly and can build support very quickly," the commentator said. "In my opinion that the political architecture of our archipelago remains highly fragile."

New Title Aims to Encourage Dialogue

The team have examined the governmental, financial and societal arguments for any governmental shift in a publication, Examining Irish Unification, issued by the Irish Royal Irish Academy.

They hope to provoke discussion on the issue with a series of speaking events that will lead them to Westminster early next month.

"What concerns everybody, or should haunt all involved, is the Brexit referendum of 2016," stated O’Toole.

"We should prevent a referendum on a yes-no, vague proposition whose results have not been clarified because then you find yourself with an extraordinarily split population where people who have lost are resistant to defeat and the victorious side don't know precisely what it is that they have won."

Governmental Mandate

Under the Good Friday agreement, the Northern Ireland official must arrange a public vote on Irish unity if it is indicated that a majority would approve.

Nationalist parties and other pro-unification groups argue this point is approaching, and a group called Ireland’s Future has rallied support, but both governments and pro-UK factions downplay the likelihood, leaving it unclear whether or when there will be a referendum.

Absence of Substantive Discussion

Ideological statements supporting and opposing unification has masked the lack of serious debate, noted McBride.

"People tend to be supportive or opposed the idea but the actual thinking which could extend past that to realise it has largely not occurred. A lot has gone on in scholarly circles but scarcely any government figures or activists seek to involve themselves with even the fundamentals. To illustrate, what sort of state might be preferred? Unitary? Federal?"

Volume's Strategy

In the volume, no writer supports unification or the status quo. They composes two pieces that seek objectivity in presenting the rationale for a united Ireland and the case against, gathering financial and societal statistics, previous instances and governmental frameworks.

Arguments cover identity markers, duties, healthcare systems, pensions, sovereign debt obligations and the danger of pro-UK militancy. The goal is to inform and provoke discussion.

"There's huge interest in the subject but there is still lacking a discussion," commented O’Toole. "Dialogue implies an recognition of the notion that there could be valid points on each side."

Simultaneous Plebiscites

A public vote in Northern Ireland would simultaneously prompt one in the republic, where voters claim they support unification but reject increased taxation or adopting a alternative symbol to acknowledge pro-UK communities' British culture.

"Authorities in Dublin does need to establish what the proposal from Irish nationalism is other than just saying: 'We want a united Ireland and we love you'," remarked the commentator.

Possibility of Public Vote

The journalist considers a national vote in his generation is likely and that it might occur suddenly. "There might be just a irresponsible or a bad or a feckless government minister who says: 'Let's just do this and resolve it.'"

Both pro-unification advocates and pro-UK supporters have plausible, valid arguments, he commented. "One side will win on this issue and the other side will in the end lose but both parties has has important lessons to gain from the alternative arguments."

Call for Wider Dialogue

Westminster must join the debate, stated the analyst. "This concerns your state. It's a UK matter just as much as it is an Irish question."