Ireland in Perspective

(3 Credit Hours) · Undergraduate

Ireland is in a state of ongoing transformation, experiencing rapid and dramatic economic, social and cultural changes in a short period of time. Yet there are structural continuities traced back to modern Irish society before and after independence that underlie and help to explain these changes. This module explores the continuities amidst the significant changes in contemporary Irish society drawing on a comparative perspective. This provides a framework to identify what is similar to the continuities and changes in Ireland compared to other related societies, and what is different in the Irish experience contrasted with other societies. The topics examined in the module include some of the following: periods of boom and bust in Ireland's development, particularly the Celtic Tiger and current austerity; population, emigration and immigration; inequality, poverty and class; housing; education; labour markets; social networks; religion and secularisation; pluralism and liberalisation; consumerism and individualism; the media; social movements; and nationalism and national identity.