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The Republic of Ireland's Policy Towards Northern Ireland: The International Dimension as a Policy Tool

The impact of the international dimension on the Northern Ireland problem has been an area of increased research and debate in recent times. The peace process in Northern Ireland, the activities of the Clinton presidency and the ending of the Cold War have led to a renewed interest in the contribution that international actors and the changing international climate have made to the Northern Ireland situation. This article analyses one aspect of the international dimension: the manner and effectiveness of attempts by Irish governments to use international opinion to advance their Northern Irish policies. The paper identifies the objectives of Dublin in seeking to use international opinion and the tactics employed to this end. It is argued that, although Dublin's use of the international dimension has become subtler and more focused as its Northern Irish policy has developed, the international dimension has not had as marked an impact on Northern Ireland as is often suggested. The reason for this is that domestic factors have been more influential than international ones.