Bordering on crisis : a qualitative analysis of focus group, social media, and news media perspectives on the Republic of Ireland-Northern Ireland border during the ‘first wave’ of the COVID-19 pandemic

O'Connor, Cliodhna and O'Connell, Nicola and Burke, Emma and Dempster, Martin and Graham, Christopher D. and Scally, Gabriel and Zgaga, Lina and Nolan, Ann and Nicolson, Gail and Mather, Luke and Barry, Joseph and Crowley, Philip and Darker, Catherine D. (2021) Bordering on crisis : a qualitative analysis of focus group, social media, and news media perspectives on the Republic of Ireland-Northern Ireland border during the ‘first wave’ of the COVID-19 pandemic. Social Science and Medicine, 282. pp. 1-10. 114111. ISSN 0277-9536 (https://doi.org/10.1016/j.socscimed.2021.114111)

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Abstract

Rationale: International border controls were among the earliest and most effective of measures to constrain transmission of COVID-19. However, such measures are complex when established borders are open yet politically contested, as for the border that divides the Republic of Ireland (ROI) from Northern Ireland (NI). Understanding how this border affected the everyday lives of both populations during the pandemic is important for informing the continued development of effective responses to COVID-19 and future health crises. Objective: This multi-methods study aimed to explore public perspectives on how the ROI-NI border affected experiences of and responses to the ‘first wave’ of the pandemic. Method: The study collated data from focus groups (n = 8), news articles (n = 967), and Twitter posts (n = 356) on the island of Ireland, which mentioned the ROI-NI border in relation to COVID-19. Thematic analysis was used to explore the range of perspectives on the role played by the border during the early months of the pandemic. Results: Analysis identified three themes: Cross-Border Interdependencies illustrated the complexity and challenges of living near the border; Interpretations of Cross-Border Policy Disparities showed that lay publics perceived NI and ROI policy approaches as discordant and politicised; and Responses to Cross-Border Policy Disparities revealed alternating calls to either strengthen border controls, or pursue a unified all-island approach. Conclusions: Results reveal clear public appetite for greater synchronisation of cross-border pandemic responses, emphasise the specific vulnerability of communities living near the border, and highlight the risk of long-term socio-political repercussions of border management decisions taken during the pandemic. Findings will inform implementation of pandemic responses and public health policies in jurisdictions that share a porous land border.

ORCID iDs

O'Connor, Cliodhna, O'Connell, Nicola, Burke, Emma, Dempster, Martin, Graham, Christopher D. ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8456-9154, Scally, Gabriel, Zgaga, Lina, Nolan, Ann, Nicolson, Gail, Mather, Luke, Barry, Joseph, Crowley, Philip and Darker, Catherine D.;
  • Item type:Article
    ID code:84604
    Dates:
    Date
    Event
    1 August 2021
    Published
    4 June 2021
    Accepted
    Notes:Funding Information: This work was supported by the Health Research Board Ireland and Irish Research Council [grant number: COV19-2020-039 ]. Publisher Copyright: © 2021 The Author(s) Cliodhna O'Connor, Nicola O'Connell, Emma Burke, Martin Dempster, Christopher D. Graham, Gabriel Scally, Lina Zgaga, Ann Nolan, Gail Nicolson, Luke Mather, Joseph Barry, Philip Crowley, Catherine D. Darker, Bordering on crisis: A qualitative analysis of focus group, social media, and news media perspectives on the Republic of Ireland-Northern Ireland border during the ‘first wave’ of the COVID-19 pandemic, Social Science & Medicine, Volume 282, 2021, 114111, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.socscimed.2021.114111
    Subjects:Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > Psychology
    Social Sciences
    Department:Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences (HaSS) > Psychological Sciences and Health > Psychology
    Depositing user: Pure Administrator
    Date deposited:09 Mar 2023 10:48
    Last modified:11 Nov 2024 13:50
    Related URLs:
    URI:https://strathprints.strath.ac.uk/id/eprint/84604
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