People in Britain and Ireland have been growing further apart and yet closer together over the last generation. This paradox emerges from the survey on Irish attitudes towards the UK, commissioned jointly by the British Council and the British Embassy in Ireland and published today.
It is a valuable and relevant piece of research, dealing with Irish attitudes towards cultural, multicultural, media, scientific innovation and sporting relations with Britian as well as political, economic and international affairs between the two countries.
"We're a lot closer to them than we think," according to one respondent, in a shrewd acknowledgement of these changing but ambiguous attitudes. They combine traces of an older animosity, an awareness of a growing closeness of culture and experience, and a pride in Ireland's achievements. They have reduced over-dependence on, and psychological preoccupation with, our large and previously dominant neighbour. There is a clearcut recognition that the close cooperation between Mr Ahern and Mr Blair has made a major difference in Northern Ireland - and a desire to see Irish unity combined with a realistic appraisal of whether that is likely to happen over coming years.
Such attitudes are underpinned by close personal and human contacts. Some 75 per cent of younger professionals interviewed feel they know Britain well, 85 per cent have friends or family living there and nearly all of them have visited that country. An estimated five per cent of Ireland's population currently lives in London. The UK is the largest market for Irish goods, while Ireland is the UK's fifth most important market in the world. Investment both ways is equally high.
Irish views of the UK in a global context portray a country that remains powerful but is weakening. There is a strong desire to see it join the euro and play a fuller role in Europe. It is recognised that the UK has a specifically geopolitical relationship with the United States, compared to Ireland's largely economic one. Ireland is closer to Boston than Berlin, economically, socially and culturally, at a ratio of almost 3:1, according to the findings. There is a notable differentiation between Irish attitudes towards Scotland and Wales compared to many parts of England, while most Irish people realise thay have much to learn from Britain's approach to multiculturalism. There is a love-hate attitude towards British sport and media.
Thus the Irish-British relationship is becoming more normal, based on growing equality and mutual respect. That is a healthy and welcome change for the better.