From Partition to Brexit

Donnacha Ó Beacháin is Associate Professor of Politics at the School of Law and Government, Dublin City University

'Enthralling, insightful and meticulously researched. Anyone who wants to understand how successive Irish Governments have engaged with Northern Ireland should read it.'Bertie Ahern, Taoiseach, 1997-2008, key negotiator of the Good Friday and St Andrews Agreements ‘Brilliant, lucid and thought-provoking - required reading for anyone who wants to understand relations between these islands and the importance of the Border.’David McCullagh. Presenter of the current affairs television programme Prime Time, and Political Correspondent with RTÉ News‘successfully expose[s] … the true extent of the [Irish Government’s] ambivalences and inconsistencies, using an impressive wealth of archival material in both Britain and Ireland unavailable to an earlier generation of researchers.’Diarmaid Ferriter, Irish Times, 5 January 2019‘The book is superb for anyone who wants to know why Ireland is where it is now and how the two parts of Ireland have treated each other for nigh on to a century.’Frank MacGabhann, Irish Examiner, 23 February 2019‘Ó Beacháin has broken new ground and provided a useful map for a generation of political scientists and historians.’Seán Donlon (former Secretary-General of the Irish Department of Foreign Affairs), History Ireland, March-April 2019'Ó Beachain’s familiarity with the subject and impressive archival research deserves recognition for composing a text that is both enjoyable and informative … This book offers a concise and engaging narrative of the evolution of Irish government policy towards Northern Ireland … Ó Beacháin’s sharp wit and eye for an entertaining quotation penetrates the weighty subject matter with great success'Aaron Ó Maonaigh, The Irish Story‘Donnacha Ó Beacháin’s lively, illuminating and occasionally tendentious study…provides not only a new perspective on the history of Northern Ireland, but also a fascinating glimpse into the inner workings and identity crises of the Irish government itself… It is particularly valuable for explaining the path that Dublin took from impotent onlooker to key participant in the peace process, and for the clarity with which it explains the competing pressures shaping Dublin’s policies at key moments. It will be essential reading for anyone wishing to understand the full sweep of Northern Ireland’s troubled near-century of existence.’Professor Mark Doyle, Middle Tennessee State University, USA, Irish Studies Review, June 2019'Ó Beacháin has made good use of governmental papers and political party archives and he has conducted interviews with a wide range of Irish and British politicians. He has marshalled these sources into a text that is admirably clear and informative … Brexit has raised profound questions regarding the relationship between the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland, as well as the relationship between Ireland and Britain. How the Irish government attempts to answer these questions will play a part in shaping the futures of both Ireland and the United Kingdom. Given the fine manner in which Ó Beacháin has explained the Northern Ireland policies of successive Irish governments, he would be ideally placed to write the next chapter of that history.'Small States and TerritoriesOne of the most striking features of Ó Beacháin’s timely overview is his assured tone on a particularly contentious topic. This reflects his experience in researching and writing on the complex, multi-faceted problem of the partition of Ireland that has afflicted the country, as well as its abettor, Britain, for 100 years. This is a work of mature assessment and often unexpected nuance. His preface and introduction contain very useful guidance on terminology, political parties and key themes for anyone reading themselves into the subject. Given the extraordinary breadth of the topic, it is to be expected that a volume of this nature would have something of the character of a synthesis. From Partition to Brexit does indeed comprise an amalgam of sources and its fresh take is rooted in the careful selection of items for the author’s skilful assessment.Studi irlandesi

• Introduction: Parties and policy making in Ireland 1 The politics of partition, 1920–19322 De Valera’s Northern Ireland policy, 1932–19483 Failed campaigns, 1948–19694 War, 1969–1974 5 In fear of Armageddon, 1974–19796 Totality of relationships, 1980–1992 7 The age of consent, 1992–2018ConclusionAppendix 1: A century of government in Ireland, 1919–2018Appendix 2: Key personalities BibliographyIndex