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A decade following the UK entered into a hurried referendum that divided the nation and triggered chaos, a warning comes from beyond the Irish Sea: it could happen again.

The government and voters entered unwittingly Brexit and the same might transpire with a referendum on a unified Ireland, sparking convulsions for which nobody is ready.

That is the message from two leading commentators from each side of the Irish border who have teamed up to examine the benefits and drawbacks of Northern Ireland leaving the UK to create a different country with the Republic of Ireland.

Governmental Institutions Not Ready

The author and columnist and Sam McBride, have determined that the administrative systems in Ireland and Britain are extremely unprepared for a possibly fraught and monumental public vote.

"The lesson of Brexit remains unheeded, which is that developments can come out of the blue and can gather momentum swiftly," the commentator remarked. "It is my view that the political architecture of our islands remains highly fragile."

New Title Intends to Provoke Discussion

The team have analysed the governmental, financial and societal reasons for any constitutional change in a book, Examining Irish Unification, issued by the Irish Royal Irish Academy.

They aim to provoke discussion on the issue with a tour of public talks that will take them to Westminster in the coming weeks.

"What troubles everyone, or ought to concern all involved, is the Brexit vote of 2016," said O’Toole.

"We do not want a referendum on a binary, ambiguous question whose implications have remained undefined because then you end up with an extremely divided society where the losing side are resistant to losing and the victorious side lack clarity precisely what it is that they have won."

Governmental Mandate

Under the peace accord, the Northern Ireland secretary of state must arrange a referendum on Irish unification if it is indicated that a majority would vote in favour.

Sinn Féin and other pro-unification groups argue this point is approaching, and a group named pro-unification advocates has rallied support, but authorities in Dublin and London and unionists downplay the prospect, resulting in ambiguity whether or when there could be a referendum.

Insufficient Informed Dialogue

Political rhetoric for and against unity has hidden the shortage of informed dialogue, stated McBride.

"Individuals are often supportive or opposed the notion but the detailed consideration which might go beyond that to realise it hasn't for the most part happened. A lot has gone on in scholarly circles but very few government figures or activists are willing to participate with even the essentials. To illustrate, what type of nation would you want? Centralised? Federal?"

Volume's Strategy

In the publication, no writer endorses unity or the existing arrangement. Each authors two pieces that aim for impartiality in laying out the case for a unified Ireland and the case against, assembling financial and societal data, past examples and constitutional models.

Debates range over national emblems, levies, medical care, pensions, sovereign debt obligations and the threat of loyalist violence. The goal is to inform and encourage discussion.

"Considerable attention exists in the subject but there hasn't quite been a discussion," said the writer. "Debate implies an acknowledgement of the idea that there might be valid points on both sides."

Dual Referendums

A public vote in Northern Ireland would additionally cause one in the republic, where the electorate claim they support unification but refuse increased taxation or implementing a alternative symbol to reflect unionists' British culture.

"Policymakers in Ireland does need to determine what the proposal from Irish nationalism is aside from just saying: 'We seek a unified Ireland and we welcome you'," stated O’Toole.

Possibility of Referendum

McBride thinks a national vote in his generation is possible and that it might occur abruptly. "You could have just a reckless or a ill-advised or a incompetent official who says: 'We should proceed and get it out of the way.'"

Each of the pro-unification advocates and unionists have credible, legitimate points, he said. "Somebody will succeed here and the other side will eventually be defeated but all factions has got something to learn from the alternative arguments."

Call for More Extensive Debate

Westminster must participate in the debate, said the analyst. "This concerns your state. It is a British issue equally as it is an Irish question."