北爱尔兰(Ireland, Northern)
由大不列颠和北爱尔兰组成的联合王国（英国）的一部分。位於爱尔兰岛东北部，四周为爱尔兰共和国、爱尔兰海、北海峡及大西洋。常被称作阿尔斯特（Ulster）省。面积14,120平方公里。人口：约1,663,200（1998）。首府贝尔法斯特。人口是当地爱尔兰人的後代以及来自英格兰和苏格兰的移民。语言：英语（官方语）。宗教：新教（大部分）和天主教（少数）。货币：英镑。工业有工程、造船、汽车制造、纺织、食品与饮料加工、服装；服务业雇员约占员工总数的2/3，制造业员工则不到总数的1/5。农业具有举足轻重的地位，大部分农场收入来自畜牧业。北爱尔兰的历史大部分与爱尔兰共和国融为一体，不过16～17世纪移民进入的英格兰和苏格兰新教徒更愿意在阿尔斯特地区定居。1801年的「合并法」产生了联合王国，将大不列颠与爱尔兰连为一体。为了应对风起云涌的爱尔兰自治运动，1920年通过的「爱尔兰政府法」规定在爱尔兰成立两个部分自治的地区：北部六个县组成北爱尔兰，南部县则组成现在的爱尔兰共和国。1968年与新教徒之间的暴力冲突导致天主教徒的人权抗议，英国在1970年代初派军队进驻。爱尔兰共和军随之开始长期的恐怖活动，试图迫使英国军队撤出，以实现北爱尔兰与爱尔兰的统一。1972年北爱尔兰的宪法和议会被中止，该地区被全面置於英国的管制之下，此後冲突一直持续了三十多年。1998年英国政府与爱尔兰共和军谈判获得一项和平协议，在该地区实行广泛的国内法。1999年地方权力已转移至一个经选举产生的国民代表大会，不过不断发生的新的教派冲突以及爱尔兰共和军始终不愿交出武装，令国民代表大会的前景蒙上了阴影。
English version：
Ireland, Northern
Division of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland occupying the northeastern portion of the island of Ireland. It is bounded by the republic of Ireland, the Irish Sea, the North Channel, and the Atlantic Ocean. Northern Ireland is often referred to as the province of Ulster. Area: 5,452 sq mi (14,120 sq km). Population (1998 est.): 1,663,200. Capital: Belfast. The people are descended from indigenous Irish and those who emigrated from England and Scotland. Language: English (official). Religions: Protestantism (the majority) and Roman Catholicism (a minority). Currency: pound sterling. Northern Ireland's industries include engineering, shipbuilding, auto manufacturing, textiles, food and beverage processing, and clothing. The service industry employs about two-thirds of the workers; manufacturing, less than one-fifth. Agriculture is important, with most farm income derived from livestock. Northern Ireland shares most of its history with the republic of Ireland, though Protestant English and Scots immigrating in the 16th-17th century tended to settle in Ulster. In 1801 the Act of Union created the United Kingdom, which united Great Britain and Ireland. In response to mounting Irish sentiment in favor of Home Rule, the Government of Ireland Act was adopted in 1920, providing for two partially self-governing units in Ireland: the northern six counties constituting Northern Ireland, and the southern counties now making up the Republic of Ireland. In 1968 civil-rights protests by Roman Catholics sparked violent conflicts with Protestants and led to the occupation of the province by British troops in the early 1970s. The Irish Republican Army (IRA) mounted a prolonged terrorist campaign in an effort to force the withdrawal of British troops as a prelude to Northern Ireland's unification with Ireland. In 1972 Northern Ireland's constitution and parliament were suspended, bringing it under direct rule by the British. Violence continued for three decades. In 1998 talks between the British government and the IRA resulted in a peace agreement that provided for extensive home rule in the province. In 1999 power was devolved to an elected assembly, though the future of that assembly was threatened repeatedly by renewed sectarian strife and by the failure of the IRA to agree to decommissioning (disarming).
