Manchester University Press Mobilising Classics: Reading Radical Writing in Ireland

The names of authors such as Simone de Beauvoir, Adrienne Rich, James Connolly, Paulo Freire and Ivan Illich may be familiar, but few people venture to read the original works of these influential writers. Similarly, the terms patriarchy, institutional racism, alienation and sustainable development may be familiar but often this familiarity is removed from the analytical contexts in which these ideas emerged. This book provides a series of rich reflections on the interaction between the radical ideas associated with these and other authors, and political action in Ireland. The classic texts that comprise the focal point for each chapter were selected by the contributors, many of whom straddle the boundaries of academia and activism. Each essay provides an account of the contributor's personal encounters with the text, opens up the key mobilising ideas and considers how the text has the potential invigorate the political imagination of contemporary oppositional politics. Spanning three centuries, the texts range from Thomas Paine's The rights of man published in 1791 to Our common future, published in 1987 and include a novel, a set of letters, a short essay, a progress report on conversations, and a philosophical tome. The volume highlights how radical writing can serve to counter the resignations of the currently dominant 'there is no alternative' thinking and illustrates the political significance and enduring relevance of these mobilising classics. This book will be of interest to students in the social sciences, especially sociology and Irish studies and will appeal to those interested or involved in political activism of any variety. From the Back Cover The terms patriarchy, institutional racism, sustainable development and alienation may be familiar but this familiarity is often removed from the analytical contexts in which these ideas emerged. This book provides a series of rich reflections on the interaction between the radical ideas associated with these and other authors, and political action in Ireland. The classic texts that comprise the focal point for each chapter were selected by the contributors, many of whom straddle the boundaries of academia and activism. Each essay provides an account of the contributor's personal encounters with the text, opens up the key mobilising ideas and considers how the text has the potential invigorate the political imagination of contemporary oppositional politics. This book will be of interest to students in the social sciences, especially sociology and Irish studies and will appeal to those interested or involved in political activism of any variety. About the Author Fiona Dukelow and Orla O'Donovan are Lecturers in the School of Applied Social Studies at University College Cork.