Political Thought in Ireland 1776-1798

This is an analysis of late-18th-century Irish patriot thought and its development into 1790s radical republicanism. The book is a history of the rich political ideas and languages that emerged from the tumultuous events and colourful individuals of this pivotal period in Irish history. Patriots, radicals, and republicans played key roles in the movements for free trade, legislative independence, parliamentary reform, Catholic relief and independence from Britain; and many of their ideas helped precipitate the rebellion in 1798 Stephen Small explains the ideological background to these issues, sheds new light on the origins of Irish republicanism, and places late eighteenth-century Irish political thought in the wider context of British, Atlantic, and European ideas. Dr Small argues that Irish patriotism, radicalism, and republicanism were constructed out of five key political "languages": Protestant superiority, ancient constitutionalism, commercial grievance, classical republicanism, and natural rights.

What makes Stephen Small's book particularly welcome is his concentration on political arguments and his attempt to trace the ideas of the 1790s back to the age of the American Revolution., The range of sources consulted, deployed and extensively quoted tells us much that we did not previously know., ... as a sustained effort to engage with discourse 'in its own right' it marks a significant advance in the study of late eighteenth-century Ireland., Insights are peppered throughout the book, along with excellent descriptions of individual pamphlets or pamphleteers. There is also much to admire in Dr Small's knowledge of the printed sources., Dr Small's book is an indispensable addition to this discussion ... essential reading for anyone interesed in late eighteenth-century Ireland.