Abstract

During the 1990s and 2000s, the Irish 'Celtic Tiger' model of development was hailed as a model for other European countries, but the global economic crisis has completely removed the credibility of Ireland's approach. So where does the country go now?

Towards a Second Republic analyses Ireland's economics, politics and society, drawing important lessons from its cycles of boom and bust. Peadar Kirby and Mary Murphy expose the winners and losers from the current Irish model of development and relates these distributional outcomes to the use of power by Irish elites. The authors examine the role of the EU and compare Ireland's crisis and responses to those of other states.

More than just an analysis of the economic disaster in Ireland, the book is also a proposal to construct new and more effective institutions for the economy and society. It is a must read for students of Irish politics and political economy.
'Ireland's crisis is both highly local, rooted in the 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 this'
Fintan O'Toole, Journalist, Irish Times
'Kirby and Murphy have marched out on the battleground of ideas, asking how our political economy can be reformed. Indeed, they are demanding it. This is a work of scholarship written with the public in mind. Its contribution is delivered in a true republican fashion'
Eamon Ryan, Leader, Irish Green party
'The most important political analysis of the Irish crisis. A fundamental reimagining of Ireland as an independent state based upon republican values; a paradigm shift from a jaded political elite to a 'bottom-up' concept of democracy'
Professor Fred Powell, Dean of Social Science, University College Cork
'Most probably wish to get through the present crisis and back to normal. This book explains why that is neither possible nor desirable'
David Begg, General Secretary Irish Congress of Trade Unions
'A very important, timely and relevant contribution to the ongoing debate about Ireland's future and the type of Republic we should aspire towards'
Eamon Gilmore, Tánaiste and Leader, Irish Labour Party
'A tour de force ... marshals together the latest evidence, theory, political reform and experiments in civic initiatives'
Senator Katherine Zappone
'At last, a book which recognises that the Irish republic never treated women as equal citizens, that inequality persisted and deepened during the Celtic Tiger years'
Susan McKay, Director National Women's Council of Ireland