Politics in the Republic of Ireland

"Quite simply this is the best introduction to modern Irish politics that has ever been produced. The editors have assembled an impressive cast of the relevant experts on all the expected themes. Now in its sixth edition this book just keeps getting better and better." Paul Mitchell, London School of Economics, UK "Politics in the Republic of Ireland is the place to start for an understanding of Irish politics. This lively new up-to-date 6th edition confirms the books place at the top of any reading list." R. Kenneth Carty, University of British Columbia, Canada "This is the most comprehensive, authoritative and insightful guide to the Irish political system and the forces which shape it. There is, quite simply, no better textbook on Irish politics. No student or scholar of contemporary Ireland should be without a copy." Mary C. Murphy, University College Cork, Ireland

John Coakley is a Professor of Politics at Queens University Belfast and Fellow of the Geary Institute for Public Policy at University College Dublin Michael Gallagher is Head of the Department of Political Science at Trinity College, University of Dublin.

Part I: The Context of Irish Politics 1. The Foundations of Statehood [John Coakley] 2. Society and Political Culture [John Coakley] 3. Politics, the Constitution and the Judiciary [Michael Gallagher] Part II: Representative Democracy at Work 4. The Electoral System [David M. Farrell and Richard Sinnott] 5. Parties and the Party System [Liam Weeks] 6. Voting Behaviour [Kevin Cunningham and Michael Marsh] 7. The Oireachtas: President and Parliament [Michael Gallagher] 8. The Constituency Role of Dil Deputies [Michael Gallagher and Lee Komito] 9. Women in Politics [Yvonne Galligan and Fiona Buckley] Part III: Policy and Administration 10. The Government and the Taoiseach [Eoin OMalley and Shane Martin] 11. The Policy Making Process [Gary Murphy] 12. The Media and Politics [Kevin Rafter] Part IV: Ireland in a Wider World 13. Northern Ireland and the British Dimension [John Coakley] 14. Europe and the International Dimension [Brigid Laffan and Ben Tonra] Appendices [John Coakley]