The Politics of the Irish Civil War

by Bill Kissane

Overview

Based on extensive archival research this book situates the Irish civil war in the general process of decolonization in the twentieth century, and explains why divisions over the Anglo-Irish Treaty of 1921 proved so formative in the development of the Irish state. Each chapter is devoted to a particular aspect of the war and many new areas are explored. These include the role the doctrine of self-determination played in the Sinn Fein movement, the fate of numerous peace initiatives, the power struggle between de Valera and Liam Lynch within the IRA, and the impact of the civil war on the wider civil society. The last three chapters explore how the conflict has been interpreted by the actors themselves, as well as by historians. Combining perspectives drawn from history and politics, this book will interest not only students of Irish history, but also those interested in the comparative study of civil wars.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780191534294
Publisher:	OUP Oxford
Publication date:	08/25/2005
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
File size:	638 KB

About the Author

Bill Kissane is Lecturer in Politics in the Department of Government, London School of Economics.

Table of Contents

1. Introduction2. Decolonization and Civil War in Comparative Perspective3. The Doctrine of Self-Determination and the Treaty Split4. The Course of the Civil War5. Explaining the Intractability of the Conflict6. Civil Society under Strain: Intermediary Organizations and the Civil War7. Protective Democracy and the Establishment of the Free State8. 'Defending the Republic' and the Rise of Fianna Fail9. Historians and the Civil War10. ConclusionBibliographyIndex