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A decade after the UK entered into a rushed referendum that split the country and triggered chaos, a advisory is issued from across the Irish Sea: it could happen again.

The government and citizens entered unwittingly Brexit and the same may happen with a referendum on a unified Ireland, triggering upheavals for which no one is ready.

That is the message from two leading writers from both sides of the Irish border who have collaborated 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 found that the government bodies in Ireland and Britain are gravely unready for a possibly tense and seismic referendum.

"The key takeaway of Brexit remains unheeded, which is that events can emerge unexpectedly and can build support very quickly," O’Toole stated. "In my opinion that the political architecture of our islands remains highly fragile."

New Title Aims to Provoke Discussion

The duo have examined the political, financial and cultural rationales for any constitutional change in a book, Examining Irish Unification, released by the Dublin-based Royal Irish Academy.

They aim to stir debate on the matter with a tour of speaking events that will lead them to Westminster early next month.

"What concerns everybody, or must worry everybody, is the Brexit referendum of 2016," said the analyst.

"We must avoid a referendum on a yes-no, ambiguous question whose consequences have not been clarified because then you find yourself with an highly divided society where those defeated are resistant to losing and the people who have won lack clarity quite what it is that they have achieved."

Governmental Mandate

Under the Good Friday agreement, the Northern Ireland official is obliged to schedule a referendum on Irish unification if it is indicated that a most voters would support.

Nationalist parties and other nationalists claim this point is approaching, and a non-profit named Ireland’s Future has rallied support, but both governments and pro-UK factions downplay the likelihood, leaving it unclear whether or when there will be a national vote.

Lack of Informed Dialogue

Political rhetoric supporting and opposing unification has masked the shortage of serious debate, said the journalist.

"Many are supportive or opposed the notion but the actual thinking which might go beyond that to achieve it has largely not occurred. A great deal has occurred in universities but hardly any government figures or advocates are willing to participate with the essentials. As an example, which kind of country might be preferred? Unitary? Decentralised?"

Volume's Strategy

In the volume, none of the commentators advocates unification or the current situation. Each composes two articles that aim for impartiality in laying out the case for a united Ireland and the rationale against, gathering economic and societal statistics, previous instances and governmental frameworks.

Discussions encompass flags and symbols, levies, medical care, pensions, public liabilities and the threat of unionist unrest. The aim is to inform and provoke dialogue.

"Considerable attention exists in the topic but there has not yet occurred a discussion," commented the writer. "Dialogue implies an acknowledgement of the idea that there could be good arguments on both sides."

Simultaneous Plebiscites

A public vote in Northern Ireland would simultaneously prompt one in the republic, where voters claim they prefer unification but oppose greater financial contributions or introducing a new flag to acknowledge unionists' British identity.

"Policymakers in Ireland does need to work out what the proposal from Irish nationalism is beyond just saying: 'We want a unified Ireland and we value you'," remarked the commentator.

Possibility of Public Vote

The journalist thinks a national vote in his era is likely and that it could happen suddenly. "There might be just a irresponsible or a ill-advised or a negligent secretary of state who states: 'Let's just do this and resolve it.'"

Each of the pro-unification advocates and pro-UK supporters have credible, valid points, he stated. "One side will succeed in this matter and somebody will in the end be defeated but both parties has has valuable insights to learn from the alternative positions."

Appeal for More Extensive Debate

Westminster needed to engage with the discussion, urged the analyst. "This is about the United Kingdom. It is a UK matter equally as it is an Irish issue."