: The 2021 census results, released in 2022, confirmed a historic shift: for the first time, people from Catholic backgrounds outnumbered those from Protestant backgrounds in Northern Ireland. While religion does not strictly dictate political affiliation, it has diluted the traditional Unionist majority that once made partition seem permanent.
A century of partition has left deep scars, but 2022 may be remembered as the year the "border in the mind" began to dissolve. The hope for reunification today is characterized by a "New Unionism" and "New Nationalism" that seek to build a home for everyone on the island. : The 2021 census results, released in 2022,
This dialogue is no longer a one-sided demand from Dublin. It is a rigorous debate involving: The hope for reunification today is characterized by
: Ensuring the British identity of the Unionist community is protected and celebrated in a new state. : The 2021 census results