Kurt W. Jefferson is director of the Center for Engaging the World and professor and chair of the department of political science at Westminster College in Fulton, Missouri. He received his Ph.D. from the University of Missouri-Columbia in 1993. Jefferson served as a visiting professor of global business and politics at ICN Graduate Business School in Nancy, France. He is the author of Christianity's Impact on World Politics (2002) and numerous scholarly articles. His commentaries and analyses have appeared in such publications as La Vanguardia Dossier (Barcelona) and The Christian Science Monitor (Boston).

In Celtic Politics, Kurt Jefferson fills in an important gap in academic treatments of politics in what some have called, "the Celtic fringe."...Those lucky enough to teach more specialized courses (e.g., British Politics, Regional Politics, etc.) should place this book on their review lists....All readers will enjoy the vignettes that Jefferson places throughout the chapters, which provide details about fascinating subjects and will spur contemplation of (and class discussions about) the political importance of key historical and cultural dynamics and events.

• Part 1 PrefaceChapter 2 Introduction: Celtic Politics as a Unit of StudyChapter 3 History of the Celtic FringeChapter 4 The Rise of Home Rule and Independence on the Celtic FringeChapter 5 Party Politics in Scotland, Ireland, Wales, and Northern IrelandChapter 6 Celtic Institutions: Legislative and Executive PoliticsChapter 7 Political Culture, Economics, and Culture in Celtic LifeChapter 8 Lessons, Hopes, and Concerns: The Breakup of Britain and the Advance of Celtic Nations in Europe?Chapter 9 BibliographyChapter 10 GlossaryChapter 11 Index