First published 2010
Fintan O'Toole argues that Ireland's 2008 financial catastrophe offers an opportunity for fundamental transformation. He traces how the Republic, declared in 1949, allowed Catholic Church control over education and civil society until foreign investment created the Celtic Tiger boom of the 1990s. Corrupt politicians then encouraged reckless property speculation that nearly bankrupted the nation. O'Toole contends Ireland must now become a truly modern republic. He calls for state control of the entire education system to prepare citizens for contemporary challenges. The author demands constitutional reform to fix a dysfunctional political system that enabled the crisis. He advocates for greater citizen participation and oversight to challenge entrenched party machines. O'Toole also sees the collapse as a chance to develop proper multiculturalism, building institutions that can integrate the migrants who arrived during the boom years. The book offers a blueprint for political renewal in a country where fatalism has replaced civic engagement.
Genres: history, political-science, politics, economics, non-fiction, 21st-century, current-affairs, academic
Vibes: intimate, suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: call-to-action, social-commentary
Setting: Ireland, Republic of Ireland
Period: 2008, 1990s, 1949
272 pages · Paperback · Faber and Faber