Module Code - Title:
PO4061
-
GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS IN IRELAND (ONLINE)
Year Last Offered:
2025/6
Hours Per Week:
Grading Type:
N
Prerequisite Modules:
Rationale and Purpose of the Module:
This module introduces students to the study of the government and politics in Ireland. Its is divided into three areas which are all critically evaluated: (1) State origins and political institutions - the executive, legislature and bureaucracy; (2) Political behaviour and social change - including government, parties, party system, electoral behaviour and political culture; (3) Public policy - foreign policy, economic policy-making and the advent of partnership government; the welfare state and social policy; relations between Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland, Britain, and the EU.
Syllabus:
(1) State origins and political institutions - the executive, legislature and bureaucracy; (2) Political behaviour and social change - including government, parties, party system, electoral behaviour and political culture; (3) Public policy - foreign policy, economic policy-making and the advent of partnership government; the welfare state and social policy; relations between Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland, Britain, and the EU.
Learning Outcomes:
Cognitive (Knowledge, Understanding, Application, Analysis, Evaluation, Synthesis)
On successful completion of this module, students will be able to:
• Break down relatively complex histories of the state into a series of critical junctures to explain the trajectory of social and economic development
• Recognise values implicit in alternative political behaviours and approaches
• Construct arguments to develop a critique of contemporary approaches to economic and social policy
• Compare and contrast efficacy of alternative policy prescriptions
• Engage with a pedagogical case-study relevant to the key content
• Prepare a literature survey
Affective (Attitudes and Values)
On successful completion of this module, students will be able to:
• Combine variety of insights to analysis of issues
• Differentiate between alternative perspectives implicit in policy prescriptions
• Judge political outcomes from a variety of perspectives
Psychomotor (Physical Skills)
On successful completion of this module, students will be able to:
n/a
How the Module will be Taught and what will be the Learning Experiences of the Students:
Taught as a mixture of online lectures, online discussions and tutorials
Research Findings Incorporated in to the Syllabus (If Relevant):
Prime Texts:
Farrell, D and Hardiman, N. (2021)
Oxford Handbook of Irish Politics,
, Oxford: Oxford University Press.
• Coakley, J., Gallagher, M., O'Malley, E., and Reidy, T. (2024)
Politics in the Republic of Ireland,
, London: Routledge
Other Relevant Texts:
Programme(s) in which this Module is Offered:
PDPOSTUPA - POLITICS AND SOCIETY FOR TEACHERS
Semester(s) Module is Offered:
Autumn
Module Leader:
patrick.doyle@ul.ie