This book is the 9th volume in the established How Ireland Voted series and provides the definitive story of Ireland’s mould-breaking 2020 election. Voting behaviour is explored in depth, with examination of the role of issues and discussion of the role of social cleavages such as class, age and education.

1. The Road to the Election.- 2. Election Pledge Fulfilment Under Minority Government.- 3. Too Many, Too Few: Candidate Selection in 2020.- 4. Campaign Strategies: The Inside Story of How the Election was Fought.- 5. Brexit and the Election: The Issue That Wasn’t.- 6. Media and the Election: Social and Traditional Media Narratives in the Campaign.- 7. On the Campaign Trail.- 8. The Results Analysed: The Definitive End of the Traditional Party System?.- 9. Geographical Factors in Constituency Voting Patterns.- 10. Voting Behaviour: The Sinn Féin Election.- 11. The Evolving Nature of the Irish Policy Space.- 12. The Seanad Election: Voting in Unprecedented Times.- 13. The Slow Formation of the Government.- 14. The Election in Context.

This book is the 9th volume in the established How Ireland Voted series and provides the definitive story of Ireland’s mould-breaking 2020 election. For the first time ever, Sinn Féin won the most votes, the previously dominant parties shrank to a fraction of their former strengths, and the government to emerge was a coalition between previously irreconcilable enemies. For these reasons, the election marks the end of an era in Irish politics. This book analyses the course of the campaign, the parties’ gains and losses, and the impact of issues, especially the role of Brexit. Voting behaviour is explored in depth, with examination of the role of issues and discussion of the role of social cleavages such as class, age and education. The process by which the government was put together over a period of nearly five months is traced through in-depth interviews with participants. And six candidates who contested Election 2020 give first-hand reports of their campaigns.

Michael Gallagher is Professor of Comparative Politics in Trinity College Dublin, Ireland.

Michael Marsh is Emeritus Professor of Political Science in Trinity College Dublin, Ireland.

Theresa Reidy is Senior Lecturer in Government at University College Cork, Ireland.

“Like many West European countries, twenty-first century Ireland has experienced dramatic social and political change. How Ireland Voted provides invaluable insight into how and why the 2020 election added yet another important chapter to this story, as both politicians and voters adjusted and reacted to the unfamiliar landscape in which they found themselves.” (Sir John Curtice, Professor of Politics, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, UK) 

“The definitive, comprehensive word on a remarkable election, combining in-depth political context with expert analysis, this book is a must-read for contemporary understanding of Irish elections and will also be a valuable historical record.” (Jane Green, Professorial Fellow, Nuffield College, University of Oxford, UK) 

“An invaluable guide not just to how Ireland voted, but to why Ireland voted the way it did. Required reading for those wishing to understand the last election,and prepare for the next one.” (David McCullagh, RTÉ)

Provides a comprehensive account of Ireland's 2020 general elections Features contributions by distinguished scholars analysing the election and by practising politicians giving their accounts of the campaign Includes analysis of voting behaviour, gender quotas, and government formation

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