Northern Ireland Must Choose Stability Over Nationalism

Nearly two decades after the Good Friday Agreement cemented peace in Northern Ireland, trust between the major parties is at a low. The hard-fought stability -- now taken for granted by a generation born after "The Troubles" -- is being seriously tested by Britain's looming exit from the European Union.

Last week's high-turnout vote, the second election in under a year, resulted in the usual demonstration of sectarianism, but with some important changes. For the first time in Northern Ireland since it gained self-governing powers, the two main nationalist parties -- those that traditionally supported union with the Republic of Ireland -- won more seats than the two main unionist parties, those dedicated to seeing Northern Ireland remain part of the U.K.