32 Counties: The Failure of Partition and the Case for a United Ireland - Kieran Allen
Published in 2021 by Pluto Press, London, UK
ISBN: 978-0-7453-4417-1 (paperback)
The partition of Ireland has largely defined politics on the island over the past century. Borne out of a compromise that no one truly wanted, the partition has been a source of strife, bloodshed, and perpetual conflict in Ireland, most famously in the Troubles that rocked the island for three decades. In the aftermath of the Good Friday Agreement, it seemed unlikely that the two sides of the island would ever fully reunite, at least without more bloodshed.
In recent years, however, there has been a renewed interest in a United Ireland. Recent surveys show that the majority of Irish voters--particularly in the Republic but also increasingly in the North-- believe that a border poll within the next decade will soon unite the two sides of the island. Following the political and economic fallout from the disastrous Brexit and demographic shifts in age and religious affiliation, the possibility of Irish reunification seems to be increasingly likely in the near future.
In his 2021 book, 32 Counties: The Failure of Partition and the Case for a United Ireland, Kieran Allen (Senior Lecturer in Sociology at University College Dublin) argues that the division of Ireland has perpetuated economic inequality, sectarianism, and political dysfunction, and that reunification, based on principles of social justice and equality, is the only way to address the deep-rooted issues facing both the North and South of Ireland. As such, Allen provides both a historical analysis of partition and a call to action for a more united and progressive future for the Irish people.
Overview:
The book is divided into three main sections. The first two chapters detail the history of Ireland’s partition from the early 20th century to the tumultuous times of The Troubles. Allen argues that partition was primarily a British imperial strategy, implemented through tactics like gerrymandering, to safeguard their imperial interests. This division, he contends, has led to a "carnival of reaction" in Irish politics, where conservative forces in both states have utilized religious identity to divert attention away from persistent economic challenges and social inequalities.
The next three chapters each scrutinize three key assumptions that underlie the Belfast agreement: 1) Britain as an impartial mediator, 2) the existence of two irreconcilable cultures in the North, and 3) that the peace agreement would bring in investment to the region and lift those most affected out of poverty and deprivation. Challenging the notion that Catholic and Protestant communities are locked in perpetual conflict over their sectarian divisions, Allen posits that the real divide is maintained by political and economic measures such as austerity, competition for limited public services, and suppressed wages. These economic strains have been exacerbated by Brexit, demographic shifts in the North, and political shifts in the Republic. These have led to renewed interest in a United Ireland, as he writes, “The overall argument is that far from offering a stable long-term settlement, the inherent failures of the Belfast Agreement are reopening the question of partition itself” (45).
The final three chapters address the question of partition today and the future of a viable united Ireland. Here, he draws on the legacy of the 20th-century Irish socialist and anti-imperialist James Connolly, advocating for a grassroots movement toward Irish unity that transcends sectarian divisions. This movement, he suggests, should aim to merge Northern Ireland and the Republic into a secular, socialist, and united Ireland.
Deeper Dive:
Allen's work offers a comprehensive analysis of Ireland's historical partition and its enduring effects on the nation's political and social landscape. In the Preface, Allen introduces the central thesis of the book, challenging the notion that deep-seated religious animosities are the primary cause of division in Ireland. He posits that partition was a strategic move by British imperialism and that sectarianism has been politically and economically engineered to maintain divisions.
In the First Chapter, Allen provides the historical background of the partition in 1921. The partition was, at least on paper, intended to resolve tensions between the predominantly Protestant Unionists in the north and the Catholic nationalist majority in the south. However, Allen argues that partition has failed to resolve the deep social and political divisions in Ireland. Instead, it has entrenched inequality, sectarianism, and a dysfunctional political landscape, particularly in Northern Ireland, where the Protestant-Catholic divide has fueled conflict for decades, culminating in the Troubles (1960s–1998).
Allen examines how British imperial interests, in collaboration with industrialists, created a six-county state to ensure a unionist majority. He highlights the role of sectarianism as a tool for political control, contrasting the development of a Unionist North that defended British imperial interests and a Catholic South that consolidated into itself an anti-communist and increasingly reactionary theocratic governance. Each side bolstered the partition as a way to protect corporate and upper-class interests, as he writes, “Partition produced two Irish states that became mirror images of each other in their conservatism, one of the few countries in Western Europe where there was no left-right divide” (21). He also highlights the split within the Left on each side of the partition. The Labor movement was split into two parties: the Northern Ireland Labour Party moved to a pro-unionist stance, while the South’s Labour Party found itself loyal to the state and church and split in 1944 over the level of resistance to communism. All in all, both proved ineffective and were easily swayed by more dominant conservative forces.
In Chapter Two, Allen uncovers the powder keg that set off the Troubles in 1968. He explores the dynamics between republican and loyalist groups, emphasizing that sectarianism was fostered to divide and rule. Highlighting the failure of both the Republican armed struggle to force Britain to concede to their demands and the Unionist rebuttal of Westminster to crush the Republicans (42), he illustrates how both the North and South remained open to British influence and capital. He discusses how both communities were manipulated to serve political agendas, obscuring class-based struggles, as illustrated by the continual privatization of industry and the South cutting tariffs with Britain to promote the financial sector and free trade.
In the Third Chapter, Allen seeks to bust the myth that Britain serves as an impartial mediator between Republican and Unionist interests. He argues that the Belfast Agreement was predicated on three flawed assumptions, the first of which he analyzes in this chapter: “that Britain is not engaged in an imperialist project but retains sovereignty over Northern Ireland only because it is responding to the wishes of the majority” (44). As such, he analyzes the role of British imperialism in shaping Ireland's political landscape, arguing that British policies were designed to maintain control over Ireland, using partition and sectarianism as tools to suppress potential unity and project themselves as benign, impartial mediators between rival communities (Unionists and Republicans).
In the Fourth Chapter, Allen discusses how sectarian divisions were institutionalized and managed to prevent solidarity between Protestant and Catholic workers. He examines the economic and political mechanisms that sustained these divisions, as well as how the Belfast agreement institutionalized sectarianism, rather than lessening it. He writes,
It [the Belfast Agreement] has enabled the two big parties, Sinn Fein and the DUP, to dominate their respective communities by organizing a political system on consociational lines. The effect has been to either marginalize discussion on issues that cut across the sectarian divide or else reframe them through the lens of sectarian competition. Crucially, the agreement enables the communal parties to stage public rows while privately cooperating in governance. One of the ways this occurs is through a shared economic agenda that seeks to make Northern Ireland an enclave for low taxes, cheap labour, and reduced public services. In brief, behind the vigorous conflicts on communal lines, there is a shared embrace of neoliberalism. (74)
The Fifth Chapter focuses on the shared class interests between Protestants and Catholics that are all too often obscured by Orangeism and nationalism. He writes, “Ideologies are not disembodied entities but are carried by real people, embedded in networks and institutions. They give a partial account of real experiences and slant it in particular ways” (96). This chapter specifically focuses on the experiences of Protestant workers, highlighting how their economic and social challenges were overshadowed by these sectarian identities. Allen suggests that Organism has had to vehemently fight to maintain division between Protestants and Catholics, even though Protestant interests align more closely with those of Catholic workers than they might realize.
In Chapter Six, Allen revisits the national question in the context of contemporary Ireland, especially in the light of the push for a border poll. As such, he focuses on three key issues that are putting partition into question in contemporary Northern Ireland: Brexit, demographic shifts, and increasing pressure from progressive social movements in the Republic of Ireland. As such, he discusses how the Brexit disaster, increasing support for Scottish independence, the decline of the Protestant majority in the North, and the shifting political landscape in the South are all bringing the issue of unification back to the forefront of political discourse.
Chapter Seven examines the role of leftist politics in the movement for Irish unity. Allen argues for a socialist approach to unification, drawing on the anti-imperialist legacy of figures like James Connolly. One of the central arguments of the book is that the continued division of Ireland is unsustainable and unjust. Allen argues that a united Ireland—built on a foundation of social justice, equality, and democratic participation—would be a more just and viable solution for all the people of the island, both north and south.
He suggests that the economic and political problems in Ireland could be addressed through a process of national reunification, where the resources of the entire island would be pooled for the common good, rather than being divided along sectarian or economic lines. Allen calls for a radical rethinking of Irish society, one that prioritizes the interests of working people and marginalized communities over the interests of elites or sectarian divides. He argues that such a vision of a united Ireland would require social and political reforms that challenge the status quo, both in the North and in the Republic.
In the final chapter, Allen envisions what a united Ireland could look like. He advocates for a secular, socialist state that addresses the economic and social needs of all its citizens, transcending the divisions of the past. While advocating for a united Ireland, Allen acknowledges the challenges involved, including overcoming deep-rooted sectarianism in the North and the political complexities of the unionist position.
However, he argues that the historical and political context has changed significantly since the signing of the Good Friday Agreement in 1998 and that the question of Irish unity is increasingly gaining traction, particularly as Brexit has raised questions about the future of Northern Ireland's relationship with the UK. He calls for a long-term strategy based on dialogue, democratic engagement, and solidarity across communities to build the momentum for reunification, with a particular emphasis on building bridges between Catholic nationalists and Protestant unionists in the North. Throughout the book, Allen challenges conventional narratives about Ireland's divisions, urging readers to consider the economic and political forces that have shaped the nation's history. He advocates for a united Ireland that is both socially just and inclusive, learning from the mistakes of the past to build a more equitable future.
Commendations:
32 Counties possesses several vital strengths. First and foremost, Allen rightly insists that the national question must be reframed as a class question. Drawing from the legacy of James Connolly, he shows how sectarianism has always been carefully managed—from Stormont to the Dáil—as a tool to prevent working-class unity. The manipulation of Protestant identity to serve capitalist interests in the North is laid bare. Catholic workers, meanwhile, have been offered crumbs of inclusion under a neoliberal Southern state that continues to privatize, commodify, and abandon its most vulnerable.
As such, Allen rightly follows in the footsteps of James Connolly by putting class struggle at the center of the national question. He reminds us that partition didn't just divide a country—it divided a working class that had the potential to unite in common cause. His focus on capitalism’s role in maintaining sectarianism is a crucial correction to purely identity-based analyses.
Additionally, the book does well to dismantle the lazy liberal trope that the conflict in Ireland is simply a result of age-old tribalism. Allen shows how British imperialism, economic elites, and political opportunists actively stoked and managed sectarianism for their ends. This is essential reading for those still trapped in the idea that Protestant and Catholic workers are doomed to be forever divided.
Finally, Allen rightly critiques the neoliberal, border-poll-centered approach that dominates the mainstream discourse around reunification. He refuses to accept a model where unity is about corporate tax harmonization or “business as usual.” Allen’s work is not just another addition to the growing mountain of books on Irish unity—it’s a punch through the soft center of establishment narratives that promise a peaceful, business-friendly merger of North and South. For those of us who want real transformation, his call for a secular, socialist republic—one that breaks from both Stormont and the Dáil status quo—is welcome.
Allen reminds us of something we know in our bones but that too often gets buried beneath border poll polling and polite panel discussions: partition is not a historical accident, nor a regrettable compromise, but a deliberate imperial strategy. The British state and its capitalist allies divided the island to safeguard their economic and political interests. In doing so, they planted the seeds of a system that continues to exploit, divide, and oppress working-class people on both sides of the border.
Critique:
On the other hand, 32 Counties suffers from a few key weaknesses. First of all, Allen throws the reader into the middle of Irish history and politics from the start. He doesn’t ease the reader into the material at all, often assuming a decent amount of prior background knowledge of 20th century Irish history. For those who are new to Irish history and politics, they may find it difficult to follow along, as the amount of information that Allen relays can be quite overwhelming.
Additionally, I found Allen’s treatment of the republican struggle too light. For a book aimed at addressing Irish unity, Allen gives relatively little space to assessing the role of the IRA, Sinn Féin, or other strands of republicanism—past or present. There is only a passing reference to the decades of armed resistance that challenged British rule in the North and forced the national question back onto the political agenda. He critiques Sinn Féin’s shift toward electoral pragmatism—but offers little serious engagement with the difficult choices made on the ground, or the tensions between reform and revolution in today’s landscape. While critical perspectives are valid, a deeper analysis of the armed struggle, political negotiations, and post-Good Friday republican politics would have strengthened the book's credibility among those active in the movement.
Furthermore, while the book excels in class analysis, it risks flattening the cultural and emotional terrain of identity in the North. For many Protestants and Catholics alike, the legacy of the conflict, community ties, and historical memory can’t be reduced to economic interest alone. For many in the six counties of Northern Ireland, both Protestant and Catholic, these factors are not just distractions—they are lived realities. A purely economic lens risks alienating those whose identities have been shaped by generations of conflict and resistance. If we are to build unity from below, we need more than structural critique—we need empathy, engagement, and vision that speaks to lived experience.
Most strikingly, Allen's proposed socialist republic, while inspiring, can feel a bit abstract or utopian. His vision is clear, but the roadmap is vague. He doesn’t offer much detail about how to get from the current situation—dominated by neoliberalism North and South—to the radical transformation he proposes. What is the concrete strategy for building such a movement? How do we engage unionist communities? How do we build the kind of mass movement he calls for? What forces are capable of delivering a socialist republic? How do we organize in loyalist communities without repeating the mistakes of past outreach efforts? These are the hard questions we must confront, and Allen leaves them largely unanswered.
Finally, while Allen roots his analysis in anti-imperialism, there's limited discussion of how Ireland’s struggle fits into broader global movements. Connections to the current occupation of Palestine, anti-colonial resistance there and elsewhere, or even European left movements could have enriched the political horizon of the book. By emphasizing Ireland’s role in promoting international solidarity, Allen could highlight how the socialist vision of Connolly could extend beyond the borders of the 32 counties of Ireland and be applied to the contemporary context of wider global struggles against the forces of imperialism and capitalism.
Conclusion:
Overall, 32 Counties offers a cogent critique of the partition of Ireland and its ongoing consequences, while making the case for a united, democratic, and socialist Ireland. While it might be too dense for beginners and it leaves much to be desired in terms of strategy, engagement with real-world contradictions, and translating vision into action, Allen’s vision is a vital contribution to the debate around Irish unity. It's bold, uncompromising, and rooted in some of the best traditions of socialism’s past, specifically the radical vision of James Connolly. This book is an essential read for anyone serious about transforming Ireland—not just reuniting it. It’s a radical intervention at a time when mainstream discourse around unity is being hollowed out by centrist politics and corporate agendas.
Allen’s work isn’t just an argument for a united Ireland—it’s an argument for a new Ireland. Allen doesn’t want a rebranded Free State with a tricolor slapped over Stormont. He envisions a secular, socialist republic—an Ireland of all 32 counties where healthcare, housing, and education are public rights, not private assets. For those of us committed to a freer and more just future for Ireland, that’s exactly the kind of vision that we need.
Tiocfaidh ár lá—but only if we organize for an Ireland worth uniting.