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U.S.-European Relations in the 116th Congress [Updated May 27, 2020]
From the Document: "Since the end of the Second World War, successive U.S. Administrations and many Members of Congress have supported a close U.S. partnership with Europe. Often termed the 'transatlantic relationship', the U.S.-European partnership encompasses NATO, the European Union (EU), and extensive bilateral political and economic ties. Over the past 70 years, political tensions, trade disputes, and changes in the security landscape have tested U.S.-European relations. Despite periodic difficulties, U.S. and European policymakers have valued the transatlantic partnership as serving their respective geostrategic and economic interests."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Archick, Kristin
2020-05-27
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EU Climate Action and Implications for the United States [Updated May 26, 2020]
From the Document: "The European Union (EU) has sought to play a leading role on international climate action for decades. The EU and the United States worked closely to negotiate the 2015 Paris Agreement (PA) to combat greenhouse gas (GHG)-induced climate change. The EU opposed President Trump's 2017 decision to withdraw the United States from the PA. The current 27-member EU and the United Kingdom (UK)--which withdrew from the EU in January 2020--remain committed to the PA and to more robust climate action. Although the U.S. withdrawal is scheduled to take effect in November 2020, some Members of Congress are interested in the possible geostrategic and economic implications of climate change and mitigation efforts."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Procita, Kezee; Archick, Kristin; Leggett, Jane A.
2020-05-26
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Global Human Rights: International Religious Freedom Policy [Updated May 5, 2020]
From the Introduction: "For decades, U.S. policymakers have sought to promote religious freedom abroad, reflecting both support for human rights in U.S. foreign policy as well as the particular emphasis on freedom of religion in U.S. domestic law and political culture. Protection of religious freedom is also affirmed in international law through the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, and other instruments. Congress has been an advocate for international religious freedom issues and has sought to ensure continued support for religious freedom as a focus of U.S. foreign policy, most prominently through passage of the International Religious Freedom Act of 1998 (IRFA)."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Weber, Michael A.
2020-05-05
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Northern Ireland: The Peace Process, Ongoing Challenges, and U.S. Interests [Updated May 18, 2021]
From the Summary: "Between 1969 and 1999, roughly 3,500 people died as a result of political violence in Northern Ireland, which is one of four component 'nations' of the United Kingdom (UK). The conflict, often referred to as 'the Troubles,' has its origins in the 1921 division of Ireland and has reflected a struggle between different national, cultural, and religious identities. Protestants in Northern Ireland largely define themselves as British and support remaining part of the UK ('unionists'). Most Catholics in Northern Ireland consider themselves Irish, and many desire a united Ireland ('nationalists'). Successive U.S. Administrations and many Members of Congress have actively supported the Northern Ireland peace process. For decades, the United States has provided development aid through the International Fund for Ireland (IFI). In recent years, congressional hearings have focused on the peace process, police reforms, human rights, and addressing Northern Ireland's legacy of violence (often termed 'dealing with the past'). Some Members also are concerned about how 'Brexit'--the UK's withdrawal as a member of the European Union (EU) in January 2020--is affectingNorthern Ireland."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Archick, Kristin
2021-05-18
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Law of Foreign Missions and Media in U.S.-China Relations [May 20, 2021]
From the Document: "The United States and People's Republic of China (PRC or China) compete in a variety of legal regimes, ranging from multilateral trade bodies [hyperlink], to human rights law [hyperlink], to international maritime law [hyperlink] in the South China Sea. In some contexts, such as supply chain controls [hyperlink] and export restrictions [hyperlink], the United States has leveraged legal frameworks in an effort to 'decouple' its relations from problematic aspects of China's government and economy. In 2020, this strategic separation expanded along a new axis: restrictions on foreign media outlets and foreign missions in each other's territory. According to the Foreign Correspondents' Club of China [hyperlink], China revoked or limited more foreign journalists' press credentials in 2020 than at any time since the aftermath of the 1989 Tiananmen Square events [hyperlink]. Also in 2020, the United States capped the number of staff at some China-based media outlets operating in the United States by designating the outlets as 'foreign missions' that are 'substantially owned or effectively controlled' by the PRC. Later that year, the United States and China demanded reciprocal consulate closures and placed tit-for-tat restrictions on diplomatic access in each other's territory. Media outlets report [hyperlink] that, during the March 2021 meeting [hyperlink] between the United States and China in Alaska, PRC officials discussed the possibility of reversing these measures as part of a broader proposed plan to improve the U.S.-China relationship [hyperlink]. This Sidebar examines the series of escalating actions concerning foreign media and missions, outlines the legal framework for the measures, and analyzes their relevance for Congress."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Mulligan, Stephen P.
2021-05-20
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China Primer: Uyghurs [Updated June 7, 2021]
From the Document: "Uyghurs (also spelled 'Uighurs') are a Muslim ethnic group living primarily in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region (XUAR) in the far northwest of the People's Republic of China (PRC). They have garnered the attention of U.S. policymakers, particularly since 2018 following reports of the mass internment of Uyghurs in 'reeducation' centers. The detentions are part of a PRC government effort to systematically transform the thought and behavior of Uyghurs and forcefully assimilate them into Chinese society, which some observers believe may result in the destruction of Uyghur culture and identity. The U.S. government has responded by implementing targeted restrictions on trade with Xinjiang and imposing visa and economic sanctions on some PRC officials."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Lum, Thomas G. (Thomas Gong), 1961-; Weber, Michael A.
2021-06-07
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Global Human Rights: The Department of State's Country Reports on Human Rights Practices [Updated April 16, 2021]
From the Introduction: "The State Department's 'Country Reports on Human Rights Practices' are an annual U.S. government account of human rights conditions in countries around the globe. The reports characterize countries on the basis of their adherence to 'internationally recognized human rights,' which generally refer to the civil, political, and worker rights set forth in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (adopted by the United Nations General Assembly in 1948) and other international human rights agreements. The most recent reports cover calendar year 2020 and were issued on March 30, 2021. They provide individual narratives on countries and territories worldwide and are available on the Department of State website. As with prior reports, the 2020 reports do not compare countries or rank them based on the severity of human rights abuses documented. Although the reports describe human rights violations in many countries, in remarks introducing the reports and in a written preface, Secretary of State Antony Blinken specifically noted violations in a number of countries, including China, Ethiopia, Russia, Syria, Uganda, Venezuela, and Yemen, among others. Blinken described Coronavirus Disease 2019 as a negative factor affecting respect for human rights globally, stating that 'autocratic governments have used [the pandemic] as a pretext to target their critics and further repress human rights.'"
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Weber, Michael A.
2021-04-16
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EU Climate Action and Implications for the United States [Updated April 6, 2021]
From the Document: "The European Union (EU) has sought to play a leading role on international climate action for decades. It worked closely with the United States to negotiate the 2015 Paris Agreement (PA)to combat greenhouse gas (GHG)-induced climate change. The 27-member EU and the United Kingdom (UK)--which exited the EU in January 2020-- have welcomed President Joe Biden's decision to rejoin the PA (reversing the U.S. withdrawal carried out by the former Trump Administration). Biden Administration climate positions are expected to align with EU views in many respects. The 117th Congress may compare EU climate action policies with Biden Administration plans and may assess prospects for and challenges to U.S.-EU cooperation on climate change and mitigation efforts in the years ahead."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Procita, Kezee; Archick, Kristin; Leggett, Jane A.
2021-04-06
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The European Parliament and U.S. Interests [Updated May 26, 2021]
From the Document: "The European Parliament (EP) is the only directly elected institution of the 27-country European Union (EU). The EP's 705 members represent the EU's roughly 445million citizens. The most recent EP elections were in May 2019. The EP has accumulated more power over time as part of EU efforts to improve democratic accountability and transparency in EU policymaking. Enhanced powers since the 2009 Lisbon Treaty have made the EP a more important actor on several issues of U.S. concern, including trade, data privacy, and counterterrorism. Congress-EP ties are long-standing, and Congress may be interested in EP activities given the EP's potential to influence key aspects of U.S.-EU relations."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Archick, Kristin
2021-05-26
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Transatlantic Relations: U.S. Interests and Key Issues [Updated April 27, 2020]
From the Summary: "For the past 70 years, the United States has been instrumental in leading and promoting a strong U.S.-European partnership. Often termed the transatlantic relationship, this partnership has been grounded in the U.S.-led post-World War II order based on alliances with like-minded democratic countries and a shared U.S.-European commitment to free markets and an open international trading system. Transatlantic relations encompass the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), the European Union (EU), close U.S. bilateral ties with most countries in Western and Central Europe, and a massive, interdependent trade and investment partnership. Despite periodic U.S.-European tensions, successive U.S. Administrations and many Members of Congress have supported the broad transatlantic relationship, viewing it as enhancing U.S. security and stability and magnifying U.S. global influence and financial clout."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Archick, Kristin; Akhtar, Shayerah Ilias; Belkin, Paul . . .
2020-04-27
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U.S.-EU Privacy Shield and Transatlantic Data Flows [September 22, 2021]
From the Overview: "For decades, data privacy and protection issues have been sticking points in U.S. relations with the European Union (EU) because of differences in U.S. and EU data privacy approaches and legal regimes. The 27-member EU considers the privacy of communications and the protection of personal data to be fundamental rights, codified in EU law, and has established a comprehensive legal framework to protect citizens' personal data. In the United States, respect for privacy is broadly enshrined in the Constitution and data privacy and protection laws are a mix of federal and state statutes that protect certain data on a largely sectoral basis. To address EU concerns that the U.S. approach does not protect personal data to the same extent as EU law, the United States and the EU have concluded agreements to allow for commercial transatlantic data flows [...], as well as other accords for data transfers in the law enforcement sector. [...] Some Members of Congress urge the quick conclusion of an enhanced Privacy Shield in light of U.S. business and industry concerns and because they view U.S.-EU cooperation as crucial to setting international data privacy standards and countering China's potential influence on the issue globally. This report provides background on the differences in U.S. and EU data privacy regimes, the development of Privacy Shield and the prospects for an enhanced successor accord, implications for U.S. interests, and issues for Congress."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Archick, Kristin; Fefer, Rachel F.
2021-09-22
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European Union: Questions and Answers [Updated October 28, 2021]
From the Document: "The European Union (EU) is a political and economic partnership that represents a unique form of cooperation among sovereign countries. The EU is the latest stage in a process of integration begun after World War II, initially by six Western European countries, to foster interdependence and make another war in Europe unthinkable. The EU currently consists of 27 member states, including most of the countries of Central and Eastern Europe, and has helped to promote peace, stability, and economic prosperity throughout the European continent."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Archick, Kristin
2021-10-28
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U.S.-European Relations in the 117th Congress [Updated June 1, 2021]
From the Document: "Since the end of the Second World War, successive U.S. Administrations and many Members of Congress have supported a close U.S. partnership with Europe. Often termed the transatlantic relationship, the U.S.-European partnership encompasses the NATO alliance, relations with the European Union (EU), and extensive bilateral political and economic ties. Despite periodic tensions over the past 70 years, U.S. and European policymakers have valued the transatlantic partnership as serving their respective geostrategic and economic interests. The former Trump Administration questioned the tenets of the post-World War II transatlantic security and economic architecture to an unprecedented extent. President Trump's criticisms of NATO, the EU, and key European countries, as well as numerous U.S.-European policy divisions, severely strained relations. European officials have welcomed efforts by the Biden Administration to decrease tensions and renew the transatlantic partnership, although various challenges persist. The 117th Congress may evaluate current U.S. interests in Europe and prospects for future U.S.-European relations and cooperation."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Archick, Kristin
2021-06-01
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U.S.-European Relations in the 117th Congress [Updated June 24, 2021]
From the Document: "Since the end of the Second World War, successive U.S. Administrations and many Members of Congress have supported a close U.S. partnership with Europe. Often termed the 'transatlantic relationship,' the U.S.-European partnership encompasses the NATO alliance, relations with the European Union (EU), and extensive bilateral political and economic ties. Despite periodic tensions over the past 70 years, U.S. and European policymakers have valued the transatlantic partnership as serving their respective geostrategic and economic interests."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Archick, Kristin
2021-06-24
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U.S.-EU Privacy Shield [June 28, 2021]
From the Document: "For decades, data privacy and protection issues have been sticking points in U.S.-European Union (EU) relations. The EU considers the privacy of communications and the protection of personal data to be fundamental rights, codified in EU law, while U.S. policy protects certain data on a sectoral basis. To address EU concerns that the United States does not sufficiently protect personal data, the United States and the EU have concluded data transfer agreements in both the commercial and law enforcement sectors. However, unauthorized disclosures in the media in 2013 of U.S. surveillance programs and the alleged involvement of some U.S. telecommunications and internet companies heightened EU concerns about U.S. government access to EU citizens' personal data. Resulting tensions have impacted confidence in U.S.-EU data transfer accords, threatening bilateral trade for U.S. and EU businesses, and elevated congressional concerns that the EU approach to data protection creates unfair trade barriers and limits U.S. firms' access to the EU market."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Fefer, Rachel F.; Archick, Kristin
2021-06-28
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Global Human Rights: International Religious Freedom Policy [Updated July 20, 2021]
For the Introduction: "For decades, U.S. policymakers have sought to promote religious freedom abroad, reflecting both support for human rights in U.S. foreign policy as well as the particular emphasis on freedom of religion in U.S. domestic law and political culture. Protection of religious freedom is also affirmed in international law through the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, and other instruments. Congress has been an advocate for international religious freedom issues and has sought to ensure continued support for religious freedom as a focus of U.S. foreign policy, most prominently through passage of the International Religious Freedom Act of 1998 (IRFA)."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Weber, Michael A.
2021-07-20
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EU Climate Action and U.S.-EU Relations [Updated November 9, 2021]
From the Document: "The European Union (EU) has played a leading role on international climate action for decades. It worked closely with the United States to negotiate the 2015 Paris Agreement (PA) to combat greenhouse gas (GHG)-induced climate change. Since 2019, the EU has raised its domestic climate ambitions further and, in doing so, has sought to be a global standard-setter. The EU welcomed President Biden's decision to rejoin the PA (reversing the U.S. withdrawal carried out by the former Trump Administration). Both EU and Biden Administration officials repeatedly assert the importance of U.S.-EU cooperation in tackling climate challenges. The 117th Congress may compare EU climate action policies with Biden Administration plans and may assess prospects for and challenges to U.S.-EU cooperation on climate change mitigation efforts in the years ahead."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Archick, Kristin; Leggett, Jane A.; Procita, Kezee
2021-11-09
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United Nations Human Rights Council: Background and Policy Issues [Updated November 25, 2020]
From the Introduction: "The United Nations (U.N.) Human Rights Council (Council) is the primary intergovernmental body that addresses human rights worldwide. The United States is not currently a member; in June 2018, the Trump Administration announced that the United States would withdraw its membership. Administration officials cited concerns with the Council's disproportionate focus on Israel, ineffectiveness in addressing human rights situations, impact on U.S. sovereignty, and lack of reform. Presumptive President-elect Joseph Biden stated in December 2019 that the United States would rejoin the Council under his Administration. The United States is currently withholding funding to the Council under a provision in the Department of State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs Appropriations Act, FY2020 (Division G of P.L. 116-94). [...] This report provides background information on the Council, including the role of the previous U.N. Commission on Human Rights. It discusses the Council's current mandate and structure, as well as Administration policy and congressional actions. Finally, it highlights policy aspects of possible interest to Congress, including the debate over U.S. membership, U.S. funding of the Council, alternatives to the Council in U.N. fora, the Council's focus on Israel, and the possible increased influence of other countries in Council activities."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Blanchfield, Luisa; Weber, Michael A.
2020-11-25
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European Union: Questions and Answers [Updated October 27, 2020]
From the Document: "The European Union (EU) is a political and economic partnership that represents a unique form of cooperation among sovereign countries. The EU is the latest stage in a process of integration begun after World War II, initially by six Western European countries, to foster interdependence and make another war in Europe unthinkable. The EU currently consists of 27 member states, including most of the countries of Central and Eastern Europe, and has helped to promote peace, stability, and economic prosperity throughout the European continent."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Archick, Kristin
2020-10-27
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Europe, COVID-19, and U.S. Relations [Updated October 28, 2020]
From the Document: "Like most of the rest of the world, European governments and the European Union (EU) have struggled to manage the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. European leaders have characterized the pandemic as Europe's biggest challenge since the Second World War, with potentially far-reaching political, social, and economic consequences beyond the public health impact. COVID-19 also has added new tensions to an already strained U.S.- European partnership. Members of Congress may be interested in COVID-19's implications for U.S. relations with Europe, including in NATO and with the EU, and in how the pandemic might alter certain U.S.-European dynamics, especially vis-à-vis China."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Archick, Kristin; Belkin, Paul; Garding, Sarah E. . . .
2020-10-28
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Uyghurs in China [Updated October 5, 2020]
From the Document: "Uyghurs (also spelled 'Uighurs') are an ethnic group living primarily in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region (XUAR) in the People's Republic of China's (PRC's) far northwest. Uyghurs speak a Turkic language and practice a moderate form of Sunni Islam. The XUAR, often referred to simply as Xinjiang (pronounced 'SHIN-jyahng'), is a provincial-level administrative region which comprises about one-sixth of China's total land area and borders eight countries. The region is rich in minerals, produces over 80% of China's cotton, and has China's largest coal and natural gas reserves and a fifth of its oil reserves. The XUAR is a strategic region for the PRC's Belt and Road Initiative, which includes Chinese-backed infrastructure projects and energy development in neighboring Central and South Asia."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Lum, Thomas G. (Thomas Gong), 1961-; Weber, Michael A.
2020-10-05
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Global Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act [Updated October 28, 2020]
From the Document: "The Global Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act (Global Magnitsky Act, Title XII, Subtitle F of P.L. 114- 328; 22 U.S.C. §2656 note) authorizes the President to impose economic sanctions and deny entry into the United States to any foreign person identified as engaging in human rights abuse or corruption."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Weber, Michael A.; Collins-Chase, Edward J.
2020-10-28
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Child Soldiers Prevention Act: Security Assistance Restrictions [Updated November 6, 2020]
From the Document: "The recruitment and use of children in armed conflict is broadly viewed as a human rights problem, a form of trafficking in persons, among the worst forms of child labor, and a war crime. The United Nations (U.N.) has identified the recruitment and use of child soldiers as among six 'grave violations' affecting children in war and has established numerous monitoring and reporting mechanisms and initiatives to combat this practice. The U.N. affirmatively verified over 7,000 children as having been recruited and used as soldiers in 2019 alone; more than 90% of these cases were attributed to recruitment by non-State actors."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Weber, Michael A.
2020-11-06
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Failed Afghan Peace Deal
From the Webpage: "The United States has reached an agreement with the Taliban, but significant challenges, such as political power-sharing, the role of Islam, and women's rights, remain for achieving intra-Afghan peace."
Council on Foreign Relations
Jones, Seth G., 1972-
2020-07-01
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Global Democracy and Human Rights Impacts of COVID-19: In Brief [June 26, 2020]
From the Introduction: "As governments worldwide administer lockdowns, travel limitations, and other restrictions to respond to the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, some experts have warned of a 'parallel epidemic' of government repression. Proponents of this view maintain that some governments are using the COVID-19 pandemic as a pretext to consolidate political power undemocratically or impose undue restrictions on the exercise of civil and political rights. Meanwhile, even when restrictions may be justified on the basis of public health, the manner of application and enforcement of these measures may raise human rights concerns in some cases. Some Members of Congress have expressed alarm over the implications of COVID-19 for democracy and human rights trends, as evidenced by statements and legislation introduced to date. At the same time, COVID-19's ramifications in this area are diverse and evolving. This In Brief report discusses key democracy and human rights concerns raised by experts and advocates, includes brief country case studies, and discusses potential congressional policy responses. Although some issues discussed herein may be relevant to domestic debates in the United States, this report focuses on democracy and human rights issues internationally and in relation to U.S. foreign policy."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Weber, Michael A.; Blackwood, Maria A.; Husted, Tomas F. . . .
2020-06-26
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Foreign Officials Publicly Designated by the U.S. Department of State on Corruption or Human Rights Grounds: A Chronology [May 18, 2020]
From the Document: "Congress includes measures in annual appropriations legislation requiring the Secretary of State to bar certain foreign corrupt officials (kleptocrats) and human rights violators and their immediate family members from entry into the United States. Following a brief introduction, this CRS [Congressional Research Service] report provides a chronological list of such publicly designated individuals under Section 7031(c) of annual appropriations for the Department of State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs (SFOPS). A complete list of public designations pursuant to Section 7031(c) may be relevant as Congress considers legislation on and conducts oversight of the policy tools available to address foreign corruption and/or the protection of human rights. The chronology includes information on whether targets of Section 7031(c) public designations are also subject to U.S. sanctions administered by the U.S. Department of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC). The chronology does not include information or statistics on any individuals who may have been privately designated pursuant to Section 7031(c)."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Rosen, Liana W.; Weber, Michael A.
2020-05-18
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Updated: Recent U.S. Airstrikes: Legal Authorities and Questions [Updated February 18, 2020]
From the Document: "'The Trump Administration has reported to Congress a 'change in application of the existing legal and policy frameworks' regarding the use of military force, which presented the following legal justification for the January airstrikes: Article II of the United States Constitution, empowers the President, as Commander in Chief, to direct the use of military force to protect the Nation from an attack or threat of imminent attack and to protect important national interests. Article II thus authorized the President to use force against forces of Iran, a state responsible for conducting and directing attacks against United States forces in the region.' [...] This Sidebar examines the President's domestic legal authority to initiate military action under the two sources cited in the National Security Advisor's statement: the Constitution and the 2002 authorization for use of military force related to Iraq (2002 AUMF). Although not discussed in O'Brien's statement, this Sidebar also examines the implications of the ban on assassinations in Executive Order 12333 as well as the international legal framework governing the strikes."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Mulligan, Stephen P.; Elsea, Jennifer
2020-02-18
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G-7 White House Summit: President Trump Must Lead a Post-COVID Economic Partnership
From the Key Takeaways: "[1] This year's G-7 [Group of Seven] summit will be an important opportunity for the U.S. to lead the free world in calling for an economic recovery built upon economic freedom. [2] U.S. leadership matters today more than any time in decades. This year's summit will remind the world of the importance of America's role as the world's superpower. [3] The G-7 leaders should agree on a series of steps to kickstart an economic rebound and embrace policies that empower free markets and strong, secure economies."
Heritage Foundation (Washington, D.C.)
Carafano, James Jay, 1955-; Gardiner, Nile; Miller, Terry . . .
2020-05-29
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Global Human Rights: International Religious Freedom Policy [Updated June 29, 2020]
From the Introduction: "For decades, U.S. policymakers have sought to promote religious freedom abroad, reflecting both support for human rights in U.S. foreign policy as well as the particular emphasis on freedom of religion in U.S. domestic law and political culture. Protection of religious freedom is also affirmed in international law through the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, and other instruments. Congress has been an advocate for international religious freedom issues and has sought to ensure continued support for religious freedom as a focus of U.S. foreign policy, most prominently through passage of the International Religious Freedom Act of 1998 (IRFA)."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Weber, Michael A.
2020-06-29
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Northern Ireland: The Peace Process, Ongoing Challenges, and U.S. Interests [March 9, 2020]
From the Summary: "Between 1969 and 1999, almost 3,500 people died as a result of political violence in Northern Ireland, which is one of four component 'nations' of the United Kingdom (UK). The conflict, often referred to as 'the Troubles,' has its origins in the 1921 division of Ireland and has reflected a struggle between different national, cultural, and religious identities. Protestants in Northern Ireland (48% of the population) largely define themselves as British and support remaining part of the UK (unionists). Most Catholics in Northern Ireland (45% of the population) consider themselves Irish, and many desire a united Ireland (nationalists). Successive U.S. Administrations and many Members of Congress have actively supported the Northern Ireland peace process. For decades, the United States has provided development aid through the International Fund for Ireland (IFI). In recent years, congressional hearings have focused on the peace process, police reforms, human rights, and addressing Northern Ireland's legacy of violence (often termed dealing with the past). Some Members also are concerned about how the UK's decision to withdraw from the European Union (EU)--known as Brexit--might affect Northern Ireland."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Archick, Kristin
2020-03-09
