logo
episode-header-image
Feb 2020
31m 8s

The Invisible Border

NPR
About this episode
Today, the border that divides Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland is "soft", in most places you could almost forget that it's there. But for decades it was a deadly flash point in the bitter conflict known as "The Troubles" . This week, we share an episode from Today, Explained that takes a look at the history of this conflict and how Brexit could jeopardize a fragile peace.

See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences.

NPR Privacy Policy
Up next
Jul 7
American history through song
There are many ways to look at and understand American history. In this series, we’ve shared stories about how this country was founded and how it continues to evolve over time. Today, a journey through American history, with the sounds of music. To access bonus episodes and list ... Show More
22m 18s
Jul 2
The story of July 4th is messier than you remember
Devastating compromises. Midnight rides. A nailbiter vote. Statue toppling riots… and the very real possibility of death. This July 4th, we're taking you inside the making of the Declaration of Independence and how, against all odds, a single document introduced the world to a ne ... Show More
34m 19s
Jun 30
The genius and murkiness of the Constitution
What does the Constitution mean to me? That’s a question writer and actor Heidi Schreck asked herself years ago, when she started working on her one-woman play about the Constitution — a document that she loved deeply. Today on the show, we ask the same question as we explore wha ... Show More
21m 19s
Recommended Episodes
Jan 2019
Borders
With Donald Trump’s Mexican wall back in the news, Tom Holland and Iszi Lawrence follow history’s lines and linkages to discover how Britain’s borders have been used to separate communities.Tom travels to Offa’s Dyke to find out how the 176-mile-long, 8th century earthwork divide ... Show More
27m 54s
Jul 2016
Border(less)
How do you lose a family member in Europe's elusive borders? And as a refugee how do you navigate the world of smugglers when crossing the English Channel? At a time when nations are sealing off their borders, we explore the nuances of migration, border ambiguity and smuggling in ... Show More
1 h
Oct 2021
Fifty-Four Forty or Fight
At a glance, the border between the United States and Canada would seem to be at the friendlier end of the international boundary spectrum. But even though the US-Canada border is now pretty tame, when two countries touch each other over a stretch of 5500 miles, it can result in ... Show More
43m 35s
Dec 2021
A Line in the Water
At the start of 2021 and the implementation of Brexit, a trade border was created between Great Britain and Northern Ireland. What does this mean for ordinary people who cross the Irish Sea? And where exactly is this border anyway? Neil McCarthy boards Stena Line's ferry 'Embla" ... Show More
37m 43s
Feb 2023
Let’s remake a deal: Brexit and Northern Ireland (again)
<p>Since Brexit’s earliest days, the trade status of Northern Ireland and its border with the Republic of Ireland have been a perilous sticking point. We examine a deal that might—<a href="https://www.economist.com/leaders/2023/02/27/the-new-brexit-deal-is-the-best-britain-can-ex ... Show More
24m 8s
Apr 2009
Legacy of 'The Troubles'
The mental health implications of a divided society: at the time of the Peace Process, Belfast still carries a psychological burden which crosses generations, genders, and communities. 
14m 27s
Mar 2025
241. The Troubles: War in the Streets of Northern Ireland (Ep 1)
What were The Troubles and why did they lead to 30 years of violence and division in Northern Ireland? How were Irish Catholics inspired by the American Civil Rights movement in 1969? Why did the British government deploy troops on the streets of Belfast? In the first of four ep ... Show More
43m 19s
Aug 2019
Peace Lines
<p>There are many walls in Belfast which physically separate Protestant neighborhoods from Catholic ones. Some are fences that you can see through, while others are made of bricks and steel. Many have clearly been reinforced over time: a cinderblock wall topped with corrugated ir ... Show More
35m 26s