Political Change Across Britain and Ireland - by Paul Gillespie & Michael Keating & Nicola McEwen (Hardcover)

About the Book

A comparative analysis of the nations, conducted by scholars on both sides of the Irish Sea.

Book Synopsis

Constitutional order across the islands of Britain and Ireland faces critical challenges with the rise of Scottish, Welsh and Irish nationalism, an emerging English consciousness, and Brexit. There is no resolution within the old assumptions about nations, states, sovereignty and borders. Nor can we rely on post-devolution practices in relations among the various governments based on bilateral relations between London and Dublin, Edinburgh, Cardiff and Belfast. Instead, Political Change across Britain and Ireland examines the whole web of what has been called the totality of relationships among the peoples of these islands, asking difficult questions about identities, institutions and prospects for the future.

Review Quotes

What are the consequences for "these islands" when a quarter-century of devolution and Northern Ireland's Good Friday Agreement meets Brexit? The contributors to this fascinating volume explain that they have already been momentous and lay out the possible paths for their political future. A must read for anyone keen to know what the future holds for Great Britain and Ireland.--John McGarry, Queen's University Canada

Devolution is so much better understood as a living laboratory than a set of competitive league tables. This book applies just that lens to the experience of Scotland, Ireland, and Wales over the last quarter of a century. With a new government at Westminster this should be essential reading for anyone interested to combine strong devolved government with a successful United Kingdom.--Mark Drakeford, former First Minister of Wales