Public Opinion, Politics and Society in Contemporary Ireland

This book is the first systematic study of opinion polling in the Republic of Ireland from its foundations in the early 1970s. Using a unique collection of opinion poll results this work explores how Irish society has changed since polling began and demonstrates what mass surveys can tell us about the great social, political and economic upheavals that have shaped contemporary Ireland. The key themes and questions examined in this book are: Public Opinion - how reliable are opinion polls in measuring public sentiments? Politics - how well do opinion polls predict elections results? Do high government and leader satisfaction ratings translate into greater electoral support? The Economy - has the Celtic Tiger changed Irish public opinion? Northern Ireland - have aspirations for a united Ireland disappeared with the peace process? The Liberal Agenda - has Irish society really transformed itself from a rigid conservative to a more tolerant liberal society? European Integration - how did the Irish public's overwhelming support for EU accession in 1973 evolve to rejection of the Nice Treaty in 2001? Have the Irish become increasingly disenchanted with Europe?