What are the most important features of contemporary Irish political culture? Has this political culture really change significantly since 1960? If so, why has this not had a greater impact on the political party system?

Résumé du document

Irish political culture is often seen as a peculiar one compared to western European countries. The political culture might be considered as a psychological part of political system: the set of values and attitudes of a political community. According to J. Coakley, it can be divided in tree levels: the system or ‘core' values, the process and the policy or people expectations. Let us focus on the third level that is more likely to change because it concerns daily issues for citizens. First of all, why can it be said that Irish political culture is different from other societies in Europe? In other words, what best characterizes Irish political culture? Secondly, it must be focused on the changes of Irish political culture since 1960. Finally, we shall explain why these changes did not shape Irish political party system. First, let us focus on the more important features of Irish political culture. What can distinguish Irish political culture from other European societies? As a matter of fact, Irish political culture is often seen as a monolithic political culture of people sharing same features.

Extraits

[...] Therefore, there has been a modernization of Irish political culture since the country itself modernized. Moreover, Ireland knows a communication revolution since 1960. Political journalism and television are more aggressive than before and Medias spread new ideas. Irish have more access to communication Medias since the first national channel of television appeared in 1962. In addition, a secularisation movement occurred. The Catholic Church nature and power changed towards radicalism and left side of the political spectrum. Irish people's attendance to Church every day fell from 91% of the population to 64% between 1974 and 1995[3]. [...]

[...] According to Lipset and Rokkan, it can be argued that the Irish political system has been frozen when the last extension of franchise occurred in the 1918. It can explain why there are no cleavages except on national issues because Ireland was not an industrialized and urbanized country yet. Irish political party, as a postcolonial one, is not yet ready to open to parties that are not based on national issues. To conclude, it must be acknowledged that to some extent Irish political culture is peculiar in Europe. [...]

[...] What are the most important features of contemporary Irish political culture? Has this political culture really change significantly since 1960? If so, why has this not had a greater impact on the political party system? Irish political culture is often seen as a peculiar one compared to western European countries. The political culture might be considered as a psychological part of political system: the set of values and attitudes of a political community. According to J. Coakley, it can be divided in tree levels: the system or ‘core' values, the process and the policy or people expectations. [...]

[...] Nevertheless, it did not have an impact on the political party system that adapted itself to social changes. Indeed, neither new cleavages around the religious and social issues appeared, nor did Fianna Fail lose its dominance on the political party system. Political party system can be considered as an independent variable or at least as a variable that can shape political behaviour. But it can be said that this stability is an illusion and that Irish political party system may be changing more than it is often said. [...]

[...] As far as the nationalist feature is concerned, Irish political culture has changed since 1960. From a strong sense of irredentist nationalism it became more patriotic. The Northern Ireland issue changed since 1960 and people are less and less eager to see Ireland reunited. Moreover, Irish political community is less and less isolationist since it entered the European Union. If it is considered that political culture can influence political system, these changes should have shaped Irish political parties. However, since 1960, Irish political culture has changed without influencing the political party system. [...]