The United Kingdom (UK) voted to leave the European Union (EU) in June 2016 by a majority of 52 to 48 per cent; but left all the details of its exit undecided.

Under the two-year exit process the UK was to leave the EU in March 2019. That date was extended until October 31st. Legislators then failed to pass the new Brexit deal into law and the EU agreed to another extension until 31 January 2020.

If there is no withdrawal agreement, then the UK would leave the EU in a so-called "no-deal" Brexit.
The EU has made it increasingly clear that in the event of a "no deal" Brexit there would have to be custom posts erected along the border in Ireland - a "hard border".

If this were to happen there would be attacks on customs posts that would escalate and result in militarizing the customs infrastructure. This would likely mean a return of the British army or some surrogate force.
This would likely see an end to the Good Friday Agreement and the emergence of an armed Republican campaign designed to bring down the institutions of the Northern Ireland government and the removal of the British presence in Ireland.
This course will examine the background to the Brexit decision in the UK and the implications for both Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland.