Professor Tom Garvin's classic work studies the growth of nationalism in Ireland from the middle of the eighteenth century to modern times.It traces the continuity of tradition from earlier organisations, such as the United Irishmen and the agrarian Ribbonmen of the eighteenth century, through the followers of Daniel O'Connell, the Fenians and the Land League in the nineteenth century to the Irish political parties of today, including Sinn Fein, Fianna Fil, Labour Party and Fine Gael.The dual nature of Irish nationalism is shown in sharp focus. Despite the secular and liberal leanings of many Irish leaders and theoreticians, their followers were frequently sectarian and conservative in social outlook. This book demonstrates how this dual legacy has influenced the politics of modern Ireland.The Evolution of Irish Nationalist Politics: Table of ContentsIrish parties and Irish politicsThe Irish republic: post-colonial politics in a western European statePolitical culture and political organisationGeography, economics and methodThe origins of Irish popular politicsRoots of Irish popular nationalismThe beginnings of urban radical political organisation, 17501800Agrarianism, religion and revolution, 17601800The development of nationalist popular politics, 180048Secret societies before the Famine: the rise of RibbonismPolitical mobilisation in pre-Famine nationalist IrelandSecret societies and party politics after the FamineThe social backgroundElectoral politics after the FamineThe recrudescence of republicanism: Fenianism and the AgrariansThe IRB and Irish politics after the Land WarAgrarianism, nationalism and party politics, 187495Political mobilisation and the agrarian campaignThe development of the Irish National LeagueThe Parnell split: the collapse of the Irish National LeagueThe reconstruction of nationalist politics, 18911910The rebuilding of the parliamentary partyThe rise of the HiberniansThe new nationalism and military conspiracy, 190016The development of cultural nationalism and the origins of Sinn FeinFenians, Volunteers and insurrectionElections, revolution and civil war, 191623The rise of Sinn FeinThe electoral landslide of December 1918The Republic of Ireland, 191923The origins of the party system in independent IrelandThe ancestry of the Irish party systemThe legitimation of the state and the building of political partiesAn analysis of electoral politics, 192348Parties and elections in the Irish Free StateTurnout, 192244Sinn Fein III/Fianna FilCumann na nGaedheal/Fine GaelThe Labour PartyThe farmers' partiesThe break-up of the Treaty party systemThe roots of party and government in independent IrelandThe central place of party in Irish politicsParty and the physical force traditionThe evolution of the Irish stateParty and government in independent IrelandSome comparative perspectivesLiberal democracyThe party system in comparative perspective