Readership: Irish historians; scholars and students of political history; those interested in the study of civil wars.
Bill Kissane, Lecturer in Politics, London School of Economics
"...penetrating analysis ... there is much that is stimulating and perceptive in this book" - Michael Hopkinson, History Journal
"The great strength of this book lies in the discussion: old debates are placed in new intellectual contexts, sharpening the conceptual tools at the disposal of the historian." - Matthew Kelly, The English Historical Review
"an important contribution to the literature of the Irish Civil War. [...] the author's emphasis on the way in which antecedent historical forces contributed to the outbreak of the Civil War is both novel and valuable." - Garret FitzGerald, The Irish Times
"Each and every one of these chapters makes a valuable and insightful contribution to the study of the war itself. The book is rigorous and challenging; the analysis is astute and demanding." - Anne Dolan, Reviews in History
"this thought-provoking book has advanced the study of the Irish civil war on to a new plane" - Deirdre Mc Mahon, Irish Economic and Social History
1: Introduction 2: Decolonization and Civil War in Comparative Perspective 3: The Doctrine of Self-Determination and the Treaty Split 4: The Course of the Civil War 5: Explaining the Intractability of the Conflict 6: Civil Society under Strain: Intermediary Organizations and the Civil War 7: Protective Democracy and the Establishment of the Free State 8: 'Defending the Republic' and the Rise of Fianna Fail 9: Historians and the Civil War 10: Conclusion Bibliography Index
