The Politics and Polemics of Culture in Ireland, 1800-2010

This book provides a detailed and comprehensive account of the historical evolution of cultural policies in Ireland, comparing them to international influences and developments. It demonstrates the enduring influence of the liberal principle of minimal intervention on the approach of successive Irish governments to the formulation of cultural policy, until the 1970s when the state began to take a more interventionist and welfarist approach.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 460 pages
Publication date: 31 May 2023
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

This book is a significant contribution to the field of cultural policy studies, providing a detailed and comprehensive account of the historical evolution of cultural policies and their contestation within a single democratic polity. It compares these developments comparatively against the backdrop of contemporaneous influences and developments internationally. The book traces the climate of debate, policies, and institutional arrangements that emerged from the state's regulation and administration of culture in Ireland from 1800 to 2010. It explores the influence of precedent and practice developed under British rule in the nineteenth century on the government of the 26-county Free State established in 1922, which later became the Republic of Ireland in 1949. The book demonstrates the enduring impact of the liberal principle of minimal intervention in cultural life on the approach of successive Irish governments to cultural policy, up until the 1970s. However, from 1973 onwards, the state began to adopt a more interventionist and welfarist approach to culture, marked by increasing professionalization of the arts and heritage and a decline in state support for amateur and voluntary cultural bodies. This shift in cultural policy was reflected in the growing norm of the state having a more expansive role to play in regulating and funding culture.

The book is organized into five chapters, each exploring a different aspect of cultural policy in Ireland. Chapter 1 provides an overview of the historical context in which cultural policies have developed in Ireland, including the influence of the Catholic Church, the Protestant Ascendancy, and the British Empire. Chapter 2 examines the development of cultural policy in the nineteenth century, under British rule. Chapter 3 explores the impact of the 1922 Constitution on cultural policy in the Free State, including the establishment of the Irish Free State Arts Council and the National Library of Ireland. Chapter 4 examines the development of cultural policy in the post-independence period, including the establishment of the Arts Council of Ireland and the Broadcasting Authority. Chapter 5 explores the development of cultural policy in the post-1990s period, including the impact of the Good Friday Agreement, the Celtic Tiger, and the Global Financial Crisis.

Throughout the book, the author employs a comparative approach, drawing on examples from other countries to illustrate the broader cultural policy context in Ireland. This approach helps to highlight the unique challenges and opportunities that Ireland has faced in developing its cultural policy, and the ways in which it has responded to these challenges and opportunities. The book also provides a rich analysis of the political, economic, and social factors that have influenced cultural policy in Ireland, including the role of the state, the private sector, and civil society. The author argues that cultural policy in Ireland has been shaped by a complex interplay of factors, including historical leg.

In conclusion, this book is a valuable resource for scholars, policymakers, and practitioners interested in cultural policy studies. It provides a comprehensive and detailed account of the historical evolution of cultural policies and their contestation within a single democratic polity, comparing these developments comparatively against the backdrop of contemporaneous influences and developments internationally. The book offers a rich analysis of the political, economic, and social factors that have influenced cultural policy in Ireland, and the ways in which these factors have shaped the broader cultural policy context in Ireland. The book is organized into five chapters, each exploring a different aspect of cultural policy in Ireland. The author employs a comparative approach, drawing on examples from other countries to illustrate the broader cultural policy context in Ireland. This approach helps to highlight the unique challenges and opportunities that Ireland has faced in developing its cultural policy, and the ways in which it has responded to these challenges and opportunities. The book also provides a rich analysis of the political, economic, and social factors that have influenced cultural policy in Ireland, and the ways in which these factors have shaped the broader cultural policy context in Ireland. The author argues that cultural policy in Ireland has been shaped by a complex interplay of factors, including historical, political, economic, and social.

Weight: 875g
Dimension: 229 x 152 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780367567897