ABSTRACT
Substantial, even radical, change has occurred in the Republic of Ireland. One possibility is to approach Ireland as a case study in democratisation, albeit an unusual and even unique one. The continued maturation of democratic institutions and in the evolution of a more open and modernised democratic culture within the nation are attractive points of focus for such an analysis. The debate over the proper relationship between economic modernisation — liberalisation as it is frequently referred to — and political development is one of the longest running, most ideologically charged and most exhaustingly argued in the literature on the capacity of individual states to fulfil democratic ambitions. ‘Civil society’ refers to the strength of intermediate group associations not connected to the government and intended to represent a variety of interests in a society. Everything from social attitudes and religious concerns to economic priorities and international relationships are being reassessed.
