ABSTRACT
This chapter analyses the patterns of continuity and change in the Republic of Ireland as well as Northern Ireland. Ireland possessed a quite traditional political culture, reminiscent of some of the world’s less modern societies. The economic and social transformation of the Republic of Ireland that began in the late 1950s resulted in large measure from a conscious decision by elites to modernise the country. The international development with the most profound impact on the politics of Ireland has been Irish membership in the European Union. The major challenge for the people of Ireland as a whole, of course, is to achieve a workable resolution to violence in the North, however evolutionary such progress might have to be. The chapter concludes with a brief assessment of ongoing challenges. This overview draws primarily on the chapters of this book, highlighting some of the key themes, while presenting a few additional perspectives.
