ENGLISH

Paisley: Religion and Politics in Northern Ireland

By Steve Bruce

Book information

Year
2009
ISBN
0199565716, 9780199565719, 0199281025, 9780199281022, 9781435623323
LCC
BX9225.P24 B79 2007
Open Library ID
OL10146439M
Language
english
Format
PDF
Filesize
2 MB (1592467 bytes)
Pages
312\310
Scanned
yes
Time added
2011-06-04 13:46:07

Description

The career of the Revd Ian Paisley raises vital questions about the links between religion and politics in the modern world. Paisley is unique in having founded his own church and party and led both to success, so that he effectively has a veto over political developments in Northern Ireland. Steve Bruce draws on over 20 years of close acquaintance with Paisley's people to describe and explain Paisleyism. In this clearly written account, Bruce charts Paisley's movement from the maverick fringes to the centre of Ulster politics and discusses in detail the changes in his party that accompanied its rise. At the heart of this account are vital questions for modern societies. How can religion and politics mix? Do different religions produce different sorts of politics? What is clear is that Paisley's people are not jihadis intent on imposing their religion on the unGodly. For all that religion plays a vital part in Paisley's personal political drive and explains some of his success, he plays by the rules of liberal democracy. Newly published in paperback with an afterword discussing the achievement of the devolved executive and Paisley's period as First Minister in the new Assembly.

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