This volume assesses the fundamental changes in Irish society over the last several decades, changes that have led to a more prosperous, more economically self-sufficient and more outward-looking nation. The text includes a social profile of Irish citizens over time.

The main theme of this text is change in the Republic and its emergence as a modern European state with a dynamic economy. Institutional developments, economic forces, demographic and attitudinal profiles and group-based concerns (religious, gender, class) are all discussed, as are their significance for policy enactment and political representation assessed. The book also examines the implications of these changes on the situation in Northern Ireland.