University of Limerick

A new publication highlighting the case for a new republic, Towards a Second Republic was recently launched at the University of Limerick. Written by Professor Peadar Kirby, Professor of International Politics and Public Policy, Acting Director, Institute for the Study of Knowledge in Society, UL and Dr Mary Murphy, Lecturer in Irish Politics and Society, NUI Maynooth, the book examines the case for re-establishing the republic, based on political grounds and on Ireland’s political economy since independence.  Towards a Second Republicalso analyses the options now facing Irish society in light of the financial and economic collapse.

Speaking at the launch Professor Peadar Kirby, said;  “Despite the focus on extensive reform at the general election a year ago, progress has been very disappointing and there is a widespread feeling of business as usual.  We need to re-focus attention on the urgent importance of a root and branch reform of our political and administrative system and a decisive move away from the neo-liberal model that landed Ireland in its present crisis.”

Dr. Mary Murphy added; “Ireland has much to learn from Iceland, Finland and the smaller states in Latin America.  While there are options which have to be considered within the wider context of our EU membership, we still have the scope to determine our development strategy and the capacity to make Ireland a more equal society.”

Speaking at the launch, Professor Tom Lodge, Dean of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences, UL said; “Peadar Kirby and Mary Murphy’s new book is a double achievement.  Firstly, it provides searching insights into the specific political weaknesses that help to explain to crisis that we confront today in Ireland.  Secondly, they make a case for the kinds of systematic reform that would represent a resolution to crisis not just in Ireland but more universally, and they do this in way that is hard-headed, realistic and plausible”.   

Commenting on Towards a Second Republic, Irish Times Journalist and Adjunct Professor of Journalism at UL, Fintan O’Toole said; “Ireland’s crisis is both highly local, rooted in failure of its own political culture and systems, and entirely global, emblematic of the failure of what had become a practically universal model of development.  No account of the crisis has brought these two dimensions together so intelligently and persuasively as Towards a Second Republic.”

Towards a Second Republic  is available to purchase at http://www.plutobooks.com/promo_thanks.asp?CID=PLUSECREP