Abstract

This comprehensive publication on decommissioning, the first followingthe breakthrough of 23 October 2001, analyses the reasons that made thearms issue in Northern Ireland such a difficult obstacle for the peace process.We assess the attempts to solve the sensitive arms issue, both the failuresand the process of confidence building that provided success. The recognition that the issue of paramilitary arms carried a symbolic value and weight that went far beyondits military potential, serving as the political foundation upon which bothconflicting parties anchored their positions, is one of the most pivotalfindings of this research paper.