Ireland has enjoyed continuous democratic government for almost a century, an unusual experience among countries that gained their independence in the twentieth century. But the way this works has changed dramatically over time. Ireland’s colonial past has had an enduring influence over political life, enabling stable institutions of democratic accountability, while also shaping economic underdevelopment and persistent emigration. More recently, membership of the EU has brought about far-reaching transformation across almost all aspects of life. But the paradoxes have only intensified. Now one of the most open economies in the world, Ireland has experienced both rapid growth and a severe crash in the wake of the Great Recession. By some measures, Ireland is among the most affluent countries in the world, yet this is not the lived experience for many of its citizens. Ireland is an unequivocally modern state, yet public life continues to be marked by ideas and values in which tradition and modernity are uneasy bedfellows. It is a small state that has ambitions to carry more weight on the world stage. Ireland continues to be deeply connected to Britain through ties of culture and trade, now matters of deep concern post-Brexit. And the old fault lines between North and South, between Ireland and Britain, which had been at the core of one of Europe’s longest and bloodiest civil conflicts, risk being reopened. These key issues are teased out in this book, making it the most comprehensive volume on Irish politics to date.