Radicals and Realists

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Cardiff University’s Wales Governance Centre and the publisher Welsh Academic Press will host a public launch event for a new book which provides an “essential introduction” to Ireland’s political parties.

Often overlooked in Wales, Ireland offers a fascinating context where a distinct set of political parties exist for clear historical reasons, collaborating or competing depending on their strategic aims, often with dramatic results.

Lila Haines’ Radicals and Realists, published by Welsh Academic Press, covers the history of twelve of the island’s political parties, concisely telling the country’s political history through them.

In addition to the nationalist and republican parties that have dominated politics in the Republic, Lila Haines also provides an essential introduction to parties from the unionist tradition, as well as the parties representing the labour, environmental and cross-community movements, north and south. The future strategic choices and recent electoral fortunes of these parties are all considered by Lila Haines in her ground breaking book and will also be up for debate at the event.

A fascinating evening of political discussion is promised with the Cardiff-based Irish author, who will be in conversation with Dr Thomas Leahy and the Wales Governance Centre’s Dr Giada Lagana on May 16th in the Glamorgan Building Committee Rooms, at Cardiff University.

Dr Thomas Leahy, a lecturer in Irish and British Politics at Cardiff University and author of The Intelligence War Against the IRA, has recommended the new book by Lila Haines, commenting:

“Radicals and Realists is an impressive book by Lila Haines, offering an analysis of twelve different political parties in Ireland and examining how they have evolved their strategies over the years since Partition and in some cases before then.

“I would highly recommend the book to students in particular, with the launch event no doubt being of use to researchers, academics, and anyone interested in the politics of our neighbouring island and country.”