ABSTRACT
Based on extensive historical, literary and political research, this text examines the relationship between ideas and political and social reality. It explains why the aspirations of Irish nationalism have failed to modify the facts of Irish political conflict and sectarian division. For this revised edition, Professor Boyce has added a new final chapter which considers the development of nationalism in both parts of Ireland in the light of the most recent political events and places the phenomenon of nationalism in its contemporary and European setting.
