Political communication is central to the electoral ascension of populist parties across world. Several studies investigate how used by populists gain power, but we know very little about varies when moving between opposition and government office. The few on topic focus exclusively right-wing neglect left-wing populism. This article addresses this gap in literature analyses political left- com...

The dramatic GDP and export growth of the Republic of Ireland over the last decade forms a marked contrast with that of its nearest neighbour Northern Ireland. In the Republic of Ireland, export volume growth averaged 15.5 per cent pa from 1991-99 compared to 6.3 per cent from Northern Ireland. Using data on individual manufacturing plants throughout Ireland this paper considers the determinant...

Abstract This article examines Ulster Unionist political thought, in its widest sense, against the backdrop of Northern Ireland Troubles. During this period, Unionists sought to resist nationalist and republican arguments for unification articulate their position supporters wider audiences. As Direct Rule from London followed suspension unionist-dominated parliament at Stormont 1972 abolition f...

The case of Northern Ireland and ex-IRA informers demonstrates the difficulty dealing with informer legacy post-conflict. We explain why Sinn Féin UK state have dealt some conflict cases involving but not others. Contemporary political reputational reasons are an important explanation, there also legal considerations communal pressures at play. Divisions amongst alleged self-confessed further f...

This article explores the particular challenges facing researchers interviewing political elites in a divided society. With evidence from interviews with former ministers in the Northern Ireland power-sharing government from 1999 to 2002, I demonstrate that researchers must consider a number of concerns relating to identity, bias and the polarised positions of politicians in a divided society. ...

"Ask Dr Ian About Sex" is unique as a book. It is not a text book, it is not a novel, it is not a history or a political book. It is a book about sex. It is not prudish, pornographic or distasteful in any way. Dr Banks uses mirth to write this book. This is a very common method used in our society to talk or discuss sexual matters and is used in a cultural, social and clinical settings. The con...