A reappraisal of the constitutional realities in Britain and Ireland at a time of seismic change
Published: 8 April 2025
8 April 2025: A new book, co-edited by Centre Director Professor Nicola McEwen, Political Change Across Britain and Ireland: Identities, Institutions and Futures is a ‘reappraisal of the constitutional realities in Britain and Ireland at a time of seismic change'.
A new book, co-edited by Centre Director Professor Nicola McEwen, Political Change Across Britain and Ireland: Identities, Institutions and Futures is a ‘reappraisal of the constitutional realities in Britain and Ireland at a time of seismic change'.
It is co-edited by Professor Nicola McEwen, Professor Paul Gillespie, and Professor Michael Keating, and features analysis and expertise from a range of leading academics.
The book’s editors have described the book, saying: “Constitutional order across the islands of Britain and Ireland faces critical challenges with the rise of Scottish, Welsh and Irish nationalism, an emerging English consciousness, and Brexit.
“There is no resolution within the old assumptions about nations, states, sovereignty and borders. Nor can we rely on post-devolution practices in relations between the various governments, which are based on bilateral relations between London and Dublin, Edinburgh, Cardiff and Belfast.”
Political Change across Britain and Ireland examines the “whole web of what has been called the totality of relationships among the peoples of these islands, asking difficult questions about identities and institutions and what prospects for the future might be.”
The book:
- Examines key issues across the nations rather than within individual nations
- Brings the Republic of Ireland into the analysis, while also recognising its distinct status
- Crucially includes the question of England’s place in the Union
Contributors to the book
- Coree Brown Swan
- John Coakley
- Gregory Davies
- John Denham
- John Doyle
- Jonathan Evershed
- Paul Gillespie
- Michael Keating
- Meryl Kenny
- Giada Lagana
- David McCrone
- Joanne McEvoy
- Nicola McEwen
- Mary C. Murphy
- C. R. G. Murray
- Cera Murtagh
- Clare Rice
- Etain Tannam
- Jennifer Todd
- Lisa Claire Whitten
- Daniel Wincott
Buy the book
The book is published by Edinburgh University Press. It is available to order on the EUP website. You can use the code NEW30 for 30% off.
Please contact Catriona.Murray@eup.ed.ac.uk for more information or to arrange an author interview.
First published: 8 April 2025
Attend the Edinburgh book launch – 28 April
There is a launch event for the book in Edinburgh on Monday 28 April, hosted by the Consul General of Ireland.