The principle of parity of esteem is a key component of the Good Friday (or Belfast) Agreement.  Taken seriously as a constitutional principle, it requires the State to do something unusual: to grant equal moral value to both the desire to stay within the state, and the desire to leave the state.  This is a singular idea, and it has importance for other plurinational constitutional settlements.  However, it is striking that although it was coined in 1998, the concept has barely been explored since.

This pathbreaking Conference will bring together scholars from the UK, Ireland, and other plurinational jurisdictions to discuss the concept of parity of esteem as a legal and constitutional principle.  It will explore nationality, multiculturalism, migration, citizenship, and secession, beginning in Northern Ireland, but also embracing jurisdictions such as India, Spain, and Switzerland, and in so doing advance the field of plurinational constitutionalism.

Speakers

Dr Sarah Craig (Ulster University)

Anurag Deb (QUB)

Dr Mikel Diez Sarasola (Universidad del País Vasco/Euskal Herriko Unibertsitatea)

Dr Tom Flynn (University of Essex)

Prof Colin Harvey (QUB)

Prof Katy Hayward (QUB)

Prof Colin Murray (Newcastle University)

Prof Colm O’Cinneide (University College London)

Prof Devyani Prabhat (University of Bristol)

Dr Lea Raible (University of Glasgow)

Dr Jane Rooney (Durham University)

Dr Ewan Smith (University College London)

Conference Co-ordinators

Anurag Deb (QUB)

Dr Tom Flynn (University of Essex)

Prof Katy Hayward (QUB)

Dr Ewan Smith (University College London)

This conference is funded by The British Academy as part of their 2025/26 British Academy Conferences Scheme.