Changing shades of orange and green : redefining the union and the nation in contemporary Ireland /

This first volume in the "Perspectives in British-Irish Studies" series from University College Dublin cuts new ground. It studies changes in ideas on nationalism and unionism underlying recent developments in Northern Ireland. Grounded in public lectures delivered in 2000, this volume combines the scholarship of Irish academics with thoughtful essays from politicians (mostly from Northern Ireland). This combination provides an important focus on the sociopolitical change underlying political developments. The book best deals with changes in nationalist and republican ideology in Northern Ireland (contributions by Alban Maginness, Mitchel McLaughlin; Jennifer Todd, Paul Arthur). Essays describing unionist ideology are less satisfying. The volume situates these changes in the context of changes in Irish nationalism and British constitutional and political reality. While not fully delivering on these latter aspects, the volume makes a good start. It contributes valuable material to a growing body of literature on the recent peace process and scholarship on nationalism, identity, and citizenship more generally. The editor's excellent general introduction and conclusion fill in conceptual and contextual gaps; political documents (party platforms, north and south; texts of political agreements) are included in an appendix. ^BSumming Up: Highly recommended. General readers and lower-division undergraduates and above. S. P. Duffy Quinnipiac University