Government and Politics

What is the book about

In Reforming Political Institutions: Ireland in Comparative Perspective, John Coakley considers the case for reform of Irish political institutions in the light of economic collapse, political turmoil and external intervention in the management of the state. He makes some practical recommendations for the modernising and streamlining of systems of government.

The author examines five specific institutions of great importance to Irish political life, setting them in comparative and historical context and reviewing their current role. These include two prominent and well-known institutions, the Presidency and the Seanad, as well as the much-debated issue of the Dáil electoral system, and two largely ignored matters-the system of determining Dáil constituency boundaries, and the route to ministerial office whereby, almost uniquely, Ireland’s ministers are drawn entirely from parliament.

Warning of the dangers of ‘the reflex calls for revision that have become so prominent since the crisis of 2010’, John Coakley offers a timely, balanced and detailed assessment of the effects that might follow from changes to Ireland’s political institutions and constitution, and of the extent to which reform is likely to serve as an effective antidote to the country’s current ills.

Reforming Political Institutions will attract attention from academics and students in the fields of political science and comparative government, from commentators in the media, from politicians and administrators, and from the general reader with an interest in how Ireland might begin to create the conditions for political and institutional progress.

Contents

Preface 

  1. Introduction: stability and change in Irish politics
    Tracking economic decline
    Assessing political crisis 
    Debating institutional reform 
    Conclusion
     
  2. A society transformed: economic change and cultural challenge
    Economic distress 
    Cultural transformation 
    Attitudinal shift 
    Conclusion
     
  3. The President: leader or figurehead? 
    Presidents: a comparative perspective 
    The office of President of Ireland 
    The exercise of presidential functions 
    Assessing the presidency 
    Conclusion
     
  4. The Seanad: reform or redundancy? 
    Bicameralism: a comparative perspective 
    Bicameralism in Ireland 
    The functioning of the Seanad 
    Assessing the Seanad 
    Conclusion
     
  5. The Dáil electoral system: democracy or efficiency? 
    Electoral systems: a comparative perspective 
    Irish elections and the electoral system 
    Simulating alternative electoral systems 
    Assessing the Irish electoral system 
    Conclusion
     
  6. Dáil constituencies: reapportionment or redistricting? 
    Constituency boundaries: a comparative perspective 
    Constituency boundaries in Ireland 
    Alternatives for Ireland 
    Assessing the constituency boundary revision system 
    Conclusion
     
  7. Government ministers: technocrats or parliamentarians? 
    Ministerial recruitment: a comparative perspective 
    State building and ministerial appointments in Ireland 
    The practice of ministerial selection in Ireland 
    Assessing the ministerial recruitment system 
    Conclusion
     
  8. Conclusion: a case for institutional reform? 
    Irish society in 2022 
    The Irish polity in 2022 
    Towards 2022: the prospects for institutional reform 
    Conclusion

Reforming Political Institutions: Ireland in Comparative Perspective

What is the book about

In Reforming Political Institutions: Ireland in Comparative Perspective, John Coakley considers the case for reform of Irish political institutions in the light of economic collapse, political turmoil and external intervention in the management of the state. He makes some practical recommendations for the modernising and streamlining of systems of government.

The author examines five specific institutions of great importance to Irish political life, setting them in comparative and historical context and reviewing their current role. These include two prominent and well-known institutions, the Presidency and the Seanad, as well as the much-debated issue of the Dáil electoral system, and two largely ignored matters-the system of determining Dáil constituency boundaries, and the route to ministerial office whereby, almost uniquely, Ireland’s ministers are drawn entirely from parliament.

Warning of the dangers of ‘the reflex calls for revision that have become so prominent since the crisis of 2010’, John Coakley offers a timely, balanced and detailed assessment of the effects that might follow from changes to Ireland’s political institutions and constitution, and of the extent to which reform is likely to serve as an effective antidote to the country’s current ills.

Reforming Political Institutions will attract attention from academics and students in the fields of political science and comparative government, from commentators in the media, from politicians and administrators, and from the general reader with an interest in how Ireland might begin to create the conditions for political and institutional progress.

Contents

Preface 

  1. Introduction: stability and change in Irish politics
    Tracking economic decline
    Assessing political crisis 
    Debating institutional reform 
    Conclusion
     
  2. A society transformed: economic change and cultural challenge
    Economic distress 
    Cultural transformation 
    Attitudinal shift 
    Conclusion
     
  3. The President: leader or figurehead? 
    Presidents: a comparative perspective 
    The office of President of Ireland 
    The exercise of presidential functions 
    Assessing the presidency 
    Conclusion
     
  4. The Seanad: reform or redundancy? 
    Bicameralism: a comparative perspective 
    Bicameralism in Ireland 
    The functioning of the Seanad 
    Assessing the Seanad 
    Conclusion
     
  5. The Dáil electoral system: democracy or efficiency? 
    Electoral systems: a comparative perspective 
    Irish elections and the electoral system 
    Simulating alternative electoral systems 
    Assessing the Irish electoral system 
    Conclusion
     
  6. Dáil constituencies: reapportionment or redistricting? 
    Constituency boundaries: a comparative perspective 
    Constituency boundaries in Ireland 
    Alternatives for Ireland 
    Assessing the constituency boundary revision system 
    Conclusion
     
  7. Government ministers: technocrats or parliamentarians? 
    Ministerial recruitment: a comparative perspective 
    State building and ministerial appointments in Ireland 
    The practice of ministerial selection in Ireland 
    Assessing the ministerial recruitment system 
    Conclusion
     
  8. Conclusion: a case for institutional reform? 
    Irish society in 2022 
    The Irish polity in 2022 
    Towards 2022: the prospects for institutional reform 
    Conclusion

By: John Coakley
ISBN: 978-1-904541-33-2

Published: Wednesday 09, January 2013.


€30.00

- +

Mailing List

Subscribe to our mailing list to receive regular emails about IPA courses, events, publications and news updates. You can unsubscribe at any time. For further information on how we use your data, please see our Privacy Statement.

Email