"Contemporary Ireland: A Sociological Map" provides a very readable, in-depth description and analysis of the transformations that have taken place in Ireland over the past ten years during the heyday of the Celtic Tiger. The book will become an important introductory textbook for undergraduate students in sociology, Irish studies and the human sciences. But it is written in such a way that will be a useful resource to students in more advanced courses as well as the general reader interested in Irish society and culture. Although the book mainly maps changes in the South, it also contains full description and analysis of recent transformations in the North. The book is written by leading sociologists from UCD and other Irish universities who are experts in their field. The authors take a critical stance about the changes that have taken place in Irish society. It is part of the tradition of 'public sociology' in which sociologists raise and reflect on current social issues and debates. Each chapter introduces the reader to the sociological theories and concepts that are relevant to the topic.
The reader is then shown how these apply to Ireland and the changes that have taken place in the last decade. The chapters conclude with some suggestions about the future directions of that field in the immediate future. "Contemporary Ireland" is arranged in six sections: contours of a changing Ireland; institutions; governance; economy, development and the Celtic Tiger; class, equality and inequality; and identity, diversity and culture.
