Building on the success of previous editions, Politics in the Republic of Ireland continues to provide an authoritative introduction to all aspects of government and politics in this seventh edition.

Written by some of the foremost experts on Irish politics, it explains, analyses and interprets the background to Irish government and contemporary political processes. It devotes chapters to every aspect of contemporary Irish government and politics, including the political parties and elections, the constitution, deliberative democracy, referendums, the Taoiseach and the governmental system, women and politics, the position of the Dail, and Ireland’s place within the European Union.

Bringing readers up to date with the very latest developments, especially with the upheaval in the Irish party system and the implications of recent liberalising referendums, PRI7 combines substance with a highly readable style, providing an accessible book that meets the needs of all those who are interested in knowing how politics and government operate in Ireland.

Contents:

The context of Irish politics
1 The historical background – John Coakley (UCD)
2 Political culture and societal change – John Coakley (UCD) and Theresa Reidy (UCC)
3 The constitution – Michael Gallagher (TCD)

Representative democracy at work
4 The electoral system and its political consequences – Michael Gallagher (TCD)
5 Parties and the party system – Liam Weeks (UCC)
6 Voting behaviour – Kevin Cunningham (TUD) and Michael Marsh (TCD)
7 Participatory democracy: referendums and citizens’ assemblies – Theresa Reidy (UCC) and Jane Suiter (DCU)
8 Parliament and president – Catherine Lynch (HO) and Muiris MacCarthaigh (QUB)
9 Women in politics – Fiona Buckley (UCC) and Yvonne Galligan (TUD)

Policy and administration
10 The government and the Taoiseach – Eoin O’Malley (DCU) and Shane Martin (UE)
11 Interest groups in the policy-making process – Gary Murphy (DCU)
12 The media and politics – Kevin Rafter (DCU) and Dawn Wheatley (DCU)

Ireland in a wider world
13 Northern Ireland and the British dimension – John Coakley (UCD)
14 Europe and the international dimension – Mary C. Murphy (UCC) and John O’Brennan (MU)