There are more independents in the Irish parliament than the combined total in all other industrial democracies. This book analyses and explains the reasons for the significance of a breed of politician long believed extinct in many national political systems.

Reviews

'With this book, Liam Weeks has rectified a long-standing neglect and he has done it painstakingly, busying himself over the past 15 years to establish why Ireland has a political culture so "permissive of independents". The result is an impressively thorough overview of the many facets associated with the existence of Independents in Irish politics.'
Diarmaid Ferriter, Professor of Modern Irish History at University College Dublin, The Irish Times

'An essential resource for anyone seeking to understand this key and often under studied aspect of Irish democracy.'
Seán McGraw, Asstistant Professor of Political Science, University of Notre Dame

'This book ought to be read by all involved in Irish politics, both citizens and politicians alike.'
Shane Ross TD, Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport

1. Introduction
2. A typology of independents
3. Independents' electoral history
4. Independent parliamentarians
5. The independent voter
6. Independents and the electoral system
7. Independents and government
8. Why are there independents in Ireland?
9. Conclusion
Appendix
References
Index

Author

Liam Weeks is a Lecturer in the Department of Government and Politics, University College Cork, and an Honorary Senior Research Fellow at the Department of Politics and International Relations, Macquarie University