How a Human Needs Theory Understanding of Conflict Enhances the Use of Consociationalism as a Conflict Resolution Mechanism: The Good Friday Agreement in Northern Ireland

Abstract

This article argues that systematically applying John Burton's human needs theory (HNT) when employing consociationalism increases the utility and effectiveness of consociationalism as a conflict resolution mechanism. It does so based on an examination of the 1998 Good Friday Agreement in Northern Ireland which finds that (1) its consociational provisions are consistent with HNT, (2) the vital non-consociational elements of the agreement implicitly suggest an HNT understanding of conflict, and (3) and the ongoing difficulties around parades in Northern Ireland indicate the need to further adapt consociationalism to recognise the human needs understanding of the causes of the conflict.