What is it about?
This research looks at trust in politics in Northern Ireland. Nearly 30 years after the Good Friday Agreement, Catholics and Protestants still trust different political institutions. For example, Catholics tend to trust the EU and Irish government, while Protestants trust the UK government and Northern Ireland Executive. These differences are linked to events like Brexit and the suspension of the Northern Ireland Assembly. Understanding these patterns helps explain why political divisions persist and why building trust is important for peace and fair policymaking.
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Why is it important?
This study reveals how political trust in Northern Ireland remains divided along community lines, with Catholics and Protestants showing differing levels of trust in key political institutions. These insights help explain how historical and political divisions continue to shape public confidence in governance, with implications for peacebuilding and inclusive policymaking.
Perspectives
I was motivated to work on this study because political trust is often overlooked in discussions about peacebuilding. Northern Ireland is a fascinating case in that despite decades of progress since the Good Friday Agreement, trust in political institutions remains divided. For me, this research highlights how historical legacies and recent events like Brexit continue to shape everyday attitudes. Understanding these dynamics isn’t just an academic exercise; it’s crucial for designing policies that genuinely include all communities and foster long-term stability. My hope is that these findings will inform conversations about how to rebuild trust in divided societies and prevent old divisions from resurfacing.
Sumedh Rao
Open University
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: Political trust in divided societies: Who trusts whom in Northern Ireland?, Peace and Conflict Journal of Peace Psychology, January 2026, American Psychological Association (APA),
DOI: 10.1037/pac0000828.
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