Northern Ireland: From Conflict to Compromise with Martin Burns, A&S '98 (MS)

Northern Ireland: From Conflict to Compromise with Martin Burns, MA (A&S) Header Image

Lifelong Learning LogoCourse Title: Northern Ireland: From Conflict to Compromise

Instructor: Martin Burns A&S '98 (MS)

Brought to you by Odyssey  

August 26, 2025 - September 16, 2025 (4 Sessions) 

Tuesday,  6:00PM ET - 7:30PM ET 

Virtual via Zoom

Course Description: In this course, participants will explore Northern Ireland’s history and culture to gain a better understanding of this fascinating part of the world.  The course will begin with an overview of Irish history up to 1912 followed by a class focusing on the period very often referred to as “The Troubles.”  

We next examine the Good Friday/Belfast Agreement focusing on how the agreement came about and discussing whether it might be an example of how other parts of the world can deal with conflict.  The final session looks at Northern Ireland today and we speculate on what the future might hold. Students will come away from “Northern Ireland: From Conflict to Comprise” with an understanding for how Northern Ireland developed the way it did and for an appreciation of the complex issues involved.   

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Johns Hopkins Tuition Remission Policies 

Johns Hopkins alumni, staff, faculty and their spouse or domestic partners are eligible for tuition remission for Odyssey lifelong learning courses. Select the correct ticket pricing during registration. If we cannot confirm your eligibility, you will be requested to pay the full registration price for the course.  Eligibility details can be found here.

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If a course is canceled or closed, the registrant is notified immediately, and a full refund is processed automatically unless another course is requested. Registrants who wish to withdraw from an active course must complete the online Odyssey Refund Request Form. Attach any documentation to support your request (e.g., medical documentation, family crisis documentation, etc.).

  • 100% refund: Prior to the start of the course and after the first class.
  • No refunds: After the first week of each course unless in exceptional cases.

For single-session courses:
100% refundable within two (2) business days of the event.

Please note, refunds apply only to the tuition portion of an Odyssey participant’s charges and are not applicable to any fees or gifts made to the Johns Hopkins Alumni Association. Registrants will be notified by email if a refund is approved within five (5) business days.

ABOUT Martin Burns

Martin Burns grew up in Glen Cove, New York. He went on to receive a BA in International Relations from Tufts University and a Masters in Government from the Johns Hopkins University. Most recently, Martin received a Masters in Conflict Transformation and Social Justice from the Queen’s University in Belfast. Martin’s dissertation at Queen’s focused on how the Sinn Féin leadership persuaded the broad Irish Republican constituency to support the Belfast/Good Friday Agreement in 1998. His work received praise for its originality and for his extensive interviews with major decision makers such as former Sinn Féin President Gerry Adams.

While at Queen’s, the Senator George J. Mitchell Institute for Global Peace, Security and Justice, a flagship for interdisciplinary research in areas of major societal change, published several of Martin’s blogs on international relations and conflict transformation.

Martin has worked as a congressional aide, journalist, political consultant and lobbyist for a leading non-profit. Martin currently is an independent journalist and has been published by The Hill in Washington, DC and the London Byline Times as well as other outlets.

Martin and his wife Mary Liz divide their time between their home in Washington, DC, and an apartment in South Belfast.

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 Event Date
Starts:
Tuesday, August 26, 2025
6:00pm EDT

Ends:
Tuesday, September 16, 2025
7:30pm EDT

 Contact
Odyssey
1-800-JHU-JHU1 (548-5481)
odyssey@jhu.edu

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50% discount. Alumni status will be confirmed.
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80% discount. Employment status will be confirmed.
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50% discount. Employment status of Spouse/Domestic Partner will be confirmed.
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