Neo-Colonial continuity and welfare state development in Northern Ireland: critical junctures from partition to Brexit

Abstract

Abstract

This article examines how neo-colonial structures have shaped welfare state development in Northern Ireland across four critical historical junctures: partition (1921), post-war welfare expansion (1945–1968), the Troubles (1968–1998), and the post-Good Friday Agreement period culminating in Brexit (1998–2024). Drawing upon neo-colonial theory and historical institutionalism, the study employs a critical juncture approach to analyse how political dependency, economic subordination, and institutional path dependence influenced welfare state development. Particular attention is given to the post-Good Friday Agreement and Brexit periods, where continuing dependence on Westminster, persistent educational segregation, and welfare inequalities illustrate the durability of neo-colonial structures. The findings suggest that Northern Ireland represents a distinctive case of neo-colonial continuity within the Global North, where liberal welfare institutions coexist with informal security mechanisms and enduring political divisions. The article contributes to emerging postcolonial welfare state scholarship by extending debates beyond the Global South and demonstrating how colonial legacies continue to shape welfare governance in advanced democracies.