The idea of guaranteeing political representation for different (allegedly competing) ethno-religious communities struck the French colonial administration of Lebanon as a good idea. It is directly responsible for the decline and destruction of the Lebanese nation.

The formal recognition of a role for ethno-religious communities in governance is fundamentally anti-democratic (insofar as democracy guarantees  the expression of the individual conscience of citizens) and I can't think of a case where it has produced good results in practice.

The citizens of the republic of Ireland have covered an immense distance over the past couple of decades in repudiating formerly untouchable taboos. Let's hope their northern cousins can take the same path.

Practical question : Can the UK government actually prolong the self-government hiatus indefinitely? I thought they were obliged to call new elections?

_{It is rightly acknowledged that people of faith have no monopoly of virtue - Queen Elizabeth II}