This original textbook, the first of its kind, examines important dimensions of the Northern Ireland political arena which have been overlooked and undervalued. Politics in Northern Ireland is written by a team of distinguished academics, drawn from both within and outside Northern Ireland. It adopts the analytic tools of political science and brings a comparative perspective to bear on its subject matter. Early chapters examine the historic sources of conflict, analyze the period since the outbreak of the modern troubles, and discuss the differences between the communities. The book then examines the nature of parties, elections, and elective assemblies, before focusing on policy matters, such as fair employment, policing, and gender. Finally, contributors consider relations with the Republic of Ireland and discuss the possible futures of the area. The result is a well-rounded core text designed for the classroom, as well as for those interested in learning more about different facets of politics in Northern Ireland.
Despite the staggering number of books related to the Northern Ireland political arena, most of the literature concentrates on only a few dimensions of "the conflict" and especially on constitutional policy and the on-going search for a resolution of the antagonisms. This original textbook, the first of its kind, serves as a comprehensive examination of the subject by exploring these topics and other important dimensions of politics which have been overlooked and undervalued.
