All normal societies are the same, but each abnormal society is abnormal in its own way. The usual run of campaigns in the constituencies throughout the European Union will concern economic and social issues, the relation between national sovereignty and the growing centralisation of the EU, agricultural grants, the single currency, militarisation and the other topics of the day.
These topics change from one election to another, but in Northern Ireland there is only ever one major issue, which overrides all others and places them firmly in the background: its constitutional status. The result, too, is invariably the same for this three-seater constituency: one Democratic Unionist, one SDLP member and one from the Ulster Unionist Party. The names don't change much either. The Rev Ian Paisley has always topped the poll for the DUP, with the SDLP leader, John Hume, in second place. The unionist standard-bearer used to be Mr John Taylor but he was succeeded in 1989 by Mr Jim Nicholson.
This time, things could change. There is speculation that Mr Hume could top the poll, on the back of the increase in the nationalist population and the injection of political energy that nationalists have received from the signing of the Belfast Agreement.
Visions of Hume in first place grew even brighter with the news that Dr Paisley was in hospital for tests following what was described as a bout of kidney trouble. But last week the DUP leader was back with a bang for the formal publication of his manifesto which was modestly billed on the press release as "one of the major events of the European campaign".
Apart from the Paisley-Hume contest there are other aspects of the election which make it more interesting than previous contests. The Ulster Unionist Party's Jim Nicholson has had his private life subjected to tabloid scrutiny, giving the strait-laced politics of Northern Ireland an unaccustomed flavour of sleaze.
Nobody is quite sure how Mr Nicholson's indiscretions will affect his vote. There is a conservative rural element in unionism that may be reluctant to support him.
While it would be foolish to write Mr Nicholson off, his troubles have undoubtedly enhanced the prospects of the three "dark horses" in the race. Mr Robert McCartney took his time deciding to run but has now set about campaigning with a will.
While the UK Unionist Party leader lost four members of his parliamentary group at Stormont in a split, he should still prove attractive to those UUP voters who are unhappy with their party's support for the Good Friday pact but cannot bring themselves to back Dr Paisley.
Sinn Fein is running its high-profile chairman, Mr Mitchel McLaughlin, whose comparatively moderate image induced one unionist to describe him as "the Shinner who gets to voters other Shinners don't reach". Whatever his chances of winning a Euroseat, Mr McLaughlin will at least be boosting his profile for a future Westminster election in the Foyle constituency.
Another significant outsider is Mr David Ervine, the media-friendly candidate of the Progressive Unionist Party, political wing of the Ulster Volunteer Force. His PUP has shown signs of growth in recent times.
Mr Sean Neeson has been leader of the Alliance Party since last September, succeeding Lord Alderdice when the latter became the Assembly's Initial Presiding Officer. Unlikely to garner enough votes to put him in contention, his campaign will doubtless boost his profile as Alliance leader.
The eighth candidate is Mr James Anderson of the Natural Law Party, who is busily promoting his programme of transcendental meditation as the path to resolving the Troubles.
Dr Paisley plans to turn the campaign into a rerun of the referendum on the Belfast Agreement. This approach is dismissed by Mr Hume, who is focusing, as he always does in these campaigns, on European issues.
But should the DUP leader top the poll again, he can be expected to present this as evidence that the unionist community has changed its mind since May 22nd last year. Were Mr Nicholson to lose his seat, anti-agreement unionists would immediately be tolling the death-knell of the peace process. Certainly, a sizeable combined vote for Paisley and McCartney would be used to demonstrate that the spirit of Good Friday is dead.
There was consternation in unionist ranks when the May 14th talks at Downing Street produced a document which envisaged a transfer of powers to a Northern executive but did not contain any explicit commitment to prior decommissioning by the IRA. While not rejecting the document outright, the UUP has held it at arm's length, hoping any electoral damage would be limited.
A wave of fear among unionists that they were about to be sold down the constitutional river would in all probability sink Mr Nicholson, already beset by troubles. If some form of stability can be maintained in this respect, he should just about squeeze past the winning-post.
Public opposition to his candidacy by his party colleague, Mr John Taylor, did not help his chances. But should he be defeated, Ulster Unionists may well insist it is not a reflection on their involvement in the peace process but rather a consequence of unfavourable press publicity. It's the staple of politicians in modern times: blame the media.
The Candidates
James Anderson (Natural Law)
Worked as an astronomer at the Royal Observatory in Edinburgh before becoming a teacher of Transcendental Meditation. Has been leader of the Natural Law Party in the North since it was founded in 1992.
David Ervine (Progressive Unionist)
Supporters regard him as articulate, committed and intelligent. Unionist opponents find him suspect on constitutional issues.
John Hume (SDLP)
The uncrowned king of constitutional nationalism will be competing for first place with the DUP leader. By contrast with Dr Paisley's razzmatazz, his campaign tends to be low-key and heavily focused on European issues. Tipped for president of the incoming European Parliament.
Jim Nicholson (Ulster Unionist)
He proposed the Belfast Agreement for adoption at the Ulster Unionist Council after Good Friday 1998 and, for that reason, his defeat would have a special sweetness for the anti-agreement forces.
Robert McCartney (United Kingdom Unionist)
Brilliant and successful lawyer who has many admirers but not quite so many friends in politics. Like Enoch Powell and the Tories, he is seen by supporters as the conscience of unionism, but there are doubts about his practical political skills.
Mitchel McLaughlin (Sinn Fein)
He lacks the occasional abrasiveness of Gerry Adams and the militant reputation of Martin McGuinness and is the kind of "Shinner" best calculated to appeal to the middle ground. He should do well and boost his future prospects for a Westminster seat.
Sean Neeson (Alliance Party)
He took over the Alliance leadership after the trauma of Lord Alderdice's sudden departure to become speaker of the new Assembly. Ambitious and energetic, he has been working hard at raising his media profile.
Ian Paisley (Democratic Unionist)
The ageing lion is bent on devouring David Trimble and the UUP in this election.