Blog Archives

The UK’s departure from the European Union threatened a hard border on the island of Ireland, aggravated social and political tensions and undermined key aspects of the 1998 peace agreement. Consequently a vote on Irish unity now seems more likely than at any other point since the foundation of the Irish state. Before the Vote responds to this new political reality, focusing on what needs to be understood by the public before a referendum takes place.

Drawing on new research, John Doyle analyses the economic conditions and policy frameworks in the two parts of the island of Ireland; comparing gaps in living standards, education, welfare systems, gender equality and health. The findings counter previous inaccurate perceptions of the comparative positions of the North and South and the economic relationship between Northern Ireland and the British State. From this foundation the book looks to the future, exploring how a referendum might be called and managed, how the pre-referendum debates and planning should be structured, and the legal and political processes necessary to create a united Ireland. It traces the processes of policy and economic integration in a new united Ireland and provides projections of possible economic outcomes. It concludes with a reflection on potential political structures for the new state, and on policy areas, including security and defence, that have so far not featured in public debates on unity.

Statecraft and Foreign Policy provides an in-depth understanding of India’s rise as an economic and political power and its role in addressing global challenges, from climate change to international trade, security, health and energy. It focuses on India’s statecraft and foreign policy from its independence in 1947 to current politics and policies in 2023 – 75 years later.

The book has three main sections, focusing on the evolution of India’s foreign policy after Independence, its transformation after the Cold War and as India’s economic and political power grew, and India’s engagement with major powers (like the US, China and Russia), neighbouring countries, and international institutions. The analysis draws on International Relations Theory, Foreign Policy Analysis, and the work of classic Indian thinkers like Kautilya. It combines evaluating domestic and international influences on India’s statecraft and foreign policy.

The authors introduce a ‘toolbox’ for studying the making and the outcomes of Foreign Policy based on an analysis of interests, perceptions, and values. This analytical framework goes beyond the Indian case study and can be applied to International Relations, Comparative Politics, and Foreign Policy Analysis.