The elusive quest : reconciliation in Northern Ireland

As Northern Ireland comes to terms with the nitty-gritty of the peace process, commentator Norman Porter suggests a moral pathway towards a new and enlightened society in this text.

Turning his attention towards post-Agreement politics, Porter argues that "reconciliation matters" and that, while there are genuine problems, they are not of such an order that they defy the powers of human wit, imagination and determination to resolve.

At its core, the text treats reconciliation as a moral ideal which makes demands on how we live and think as social, political and cultural beings.

Reconciliation is, Porter grants, a "hard taskmaster", but "one that has the potential of resolving outstanding problems in the North".