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Renaissance Nation: How the Pope's Children Rewrote the Rules for Ireland
In four decades, bookended by the Pope’s visits to Ireland in September 1979 and August 2018, Ireland has become one of the wealthiest and most progressive nations in the world, a bustling home to multinationals and start-ups, seemingly immune to the strains of radical populism sweeping the Western world. It’s a far cry from the dreary and stagnant nation of 40 years ago. If we look at the data, but for the recent economic crash that should have but didn’t derail the country for decades, the Irish economy appears to have burst from the blocks in 1990 and kept on going. So how did we manage it? How did we go from economic embarrassment to avocado toast in the space of a generation? The answer, David McWilliams compellingly argues, isn’t to be found in the official records of government. Instead, this was a revolution from below, born of 'a million little mutinies' in Irish society, a wholesale shift in the way normal people see and think about themselves. Characteristically brilliant and timely, Renaissance Nation is a thrilling account of Ireland’s vertiginous rise and a timely exploration of its conflicted present, where stark decisions await the next generation of would-be revolutionaries.
- GenresNonfictionEconomics
288 pages, Hardcover
Published November 9, 2018
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
February 22, 2019
David McWilliams returns with another Irish economics book wrapped in characters, stories and comparisons. After listening to his interview on the Blindboy podcast, I picked up Renaissance Nation. McWilliams is great at observing trends in Irish society, breaking them down and classifying their origin, nature and intent. He is also adept at building his own narrative universe, both within the book and across his other books, by rebasing the economics facts and theories he discusses from the point of view of characters like Quango Man, Sliotar Mom and Happy Pear Man (the evolution of Breakfast Roll Man, for those keeping track). These stereotypes, along with the humorous geographical classifications like New Wexico and Stoveland, are the sugar-coated delivery of some insightful and thought provoking opinions on and options for the various economic positions and problems Ireland faces at the moment.
McWilliams looks at the housing crisis, the proof that there is one, why it came about, what can be done to fix it and what happens if we don't. He also looks at Northern Ireland in the context of Brexit and the implications for both economies if both countries find themselves on the doorstep of a border referendum in the not too distant future. These topics are two of many that are addressed in the latter half of the book. Before that, the main theme or theory of the book is fleshed out in great detail, how the relaxation of isolationist government policy and the reduction in control by the Catholic Church in Ireland from 1979 onwards have been the contributing factors to the massive economic growth that Ireland has had since the nineties. He posits that a tolerant, understanding and free people lead to a growing economy and that the the successful repealing of the 8th amendment is a testament to how far Irish society has changed in this period.
McWilliams does a good job at framing issues and solutions in the context of the wider world and helps the reader see beyond the four provinces of Ireland. He compares the growing Irish economy of the nineties to Germany, the population density (or lack thereof) of Dublin city centre with Copenhagen and how a national fund in FDI multinationals could fund and bolster the Irish economy in the same way Norway has done with their oil resources. The biggest takeaway for me in reading this book though was the optimistic economic outlook that is portrayed. The book is in stark contrast to listening to the Irish news which wants us to believe that the country is crap because of all the problems. Not that there aren't problems, but this book helps you to remember that despite the problems, the Irish people have excelled in the open market and lifted ourselves out of the economic depression of the eighties by "having a go" as McWilliams puts it, and long may it continue.
McWilliams looks at the housing crisis, the proof that there is one, why it came about, what can be done to fix it and what happens if we don't. He also looks at Northern Ireland in the context of Brexit and the implications for both economies if both countries find themselves on the doorstep of a border referendum in the not too distant future. These topics are two of many that are addressed in the latter half of the book. Before that, the main theme or theory of the book is fleshed out in great detail, how the relaxation of isolationist government policy and the reduction in control by the Catholic Church in Ireland from 1979 onwards have been the contributing factors to the massive economic growth that Ireland has had since the nineties. He posits that a tolerant, understanding and free people lead to a growing economy and that the the successful repealing of the 8th amendment is a testament to how far Irish society has changed in this period.
McWilliams does a good job at framing issues and solutions in the context of the wider world and helps the reader see beyond the four provinces of Ireland. He compares the growing Irish economy of the nineties to Germany, the population density (or lack thereof) of Dublin city centre with Copenhagen and how a national fund in FDI multinationals could fund and bolster the Irish economy in the same way Norway has done with their oil resources. The biggest takeaway for me in reading this book though was the optimistic economic outlook that is portrayed. The book is in stark contrast to listening to the Irish news which wants us to believe that the country is crap because of all the problems. Not that there aren't problems, but this book helps you to remember that despite the problems, the Irish people have excelled in the open market and lifted ourselves out of the economic depression of the eighties by "having a go" as McWilliams puts it, and long may it continue.
May 27, 2019
Commitment issues. That's the only reason I finished this book. If you start reading, see it through to the end.
Almost unreadable in parts. Those character vignettes are not remotely as amusing or insightful to read as they probably seem to Dave when he's writing them.
That said, there are a couple of interesting passages - the current housing crisis and the prospect of a United Ireland stand out (I see Fintan O'Toole 'borrowed' his Data from Star Trek reference on the latter).
The statistics are there to back up the growth levels in Ireland over 30 years, and the link to growing liberalism seems sound enough. It's just little hard to reconcile the cheery narrative to a clearly dysfunctional current Ireland with ongoing neo-liberal driven disasters in housing, providing adequate health care, and growing racism against travelers and asylum seekers.
Almost unreadable in parts. Those character vignettes are not remotely as amusing or insightful to read as they probably seem to Dave when he's writing them.
That said, there are a couple of interesting passages - the current housing crisis and the prospect of a United Ireland stand out (I see Fintan O'Toole 'borrowed' his Data from Star Trek reference on the latter).
The statistics are there to back up the growth levels in Ireland over 30 years, and the link to growing liberalism seems sound enough. It's just little hard to reconcile the cheery narrative to a clearly dysfunctional current Ireland with ongoing neo-liberal driven disasters in housing, providing adequate health care, and growing racism against travelers and asylum seekers.
February 12, 2019
What McWilliams presents in Renaissance Nation is an optimistic picture of a moderate, modern, and dynamic Ireland. He seeks to explain how we found ourselves like this, so radically different from the old portrait of poverty and oppression that so accurately captured the country mere decades ago, and where we ought to look to in the near future.
While McWilliams has interesting ideas about how the removal of the strictures of the Church contributed to our economic blossoming, the point is belaboured and he quickly becomes mired in repetition; of both the point and the cute little phrases he uses to make it ('Radical Centre', 'have-a-go type', and 'little mutinies' are deployed ad nauseam). Similarly, what begins as a genuinely funny cast of stereotypical characters and places (Sliotar Mom, Happy Pear Man, Applegreen Land) ends up feeling extremely contrived and almost self indulgent of the authors appreciation for his own wit.
McWilliams' prescriptions for site-value taxes and a sovereign wealth fund comprised of shares of Irish based multinationals, as well as his musings on a united Ireland are by far the most interesting part of his book. However these exciting ideas are shamefully underdeveloped and constrained entirely to the final 25 pages of this 304 page slog.
I award two stars not because I disagree with the author - in fact I quite like his ideas. This deserves two stars because it is not a well executed book. My recommendation? Find a book shop with a comfy chair and read the last 3 chapters. Ignore any references to Flat White Man and Stoveland. You're not really missing out.
While McWilliams has interesting ideas about how the removal of the strictures of the Church contributed to our economic blossoming, the point is belaboured and he quickly becomes mired in repetition; of both the point and the cute little phrases he uses to make it ('Radical Centre', 'have-a-go type', and 'little mutinies' are deployed ad nauseam). Similarly, what begins as a genuinely funny cast of stereotypical characters and places (Sliotar Mom, Happy Pear Man, Applegreen Land) ends up feeling extremely contrived and almost self indulgent of the authors appreciation for his own wit.
McWilliams' prescriptions for site-value taxes and a sovereign wealth fund comprised of shares of Irish based multinationals, as well as his musings on a united Ireland are by far the most interesting part of his book. However these exciting ideas are shamefully underdeveloped and constrained entirely to the final 25 pages of this 304 page slog.
I award two stars not because I disagree with the author - in fact I quite like his ideas. This deserves two stars because it is not a well executed book. My recommendation? Find a book shop with a comfy chair and read the last 3 chapters. Ignore any references to Flat White Man and Stoveland. You're not really missing out.
February 9, 2019
In 1979 Pope John Paul II's mass in Dublin's Phoenix Park drew an attendance in excess of 1 million; the visit of Pope Francis in 2018 almost 40 years later attracted an estimated 150,000. Renaissance Nation is the the story of how the dramatic transformation and liberalization of Irish society in between the visit of the 2 Popes fed into an economic expansion and rise in living standards unprecedented in scale.
David McWilliams, Ireland's rock star economist, is sometimes chastised in the Irish press as a doom and gloom merchant, but rather than being a rant against the Church and Gombeen-man culture, this is instead a positive, upbeat celebration of the power of liberal thought, inclusion and optimism in bringing about transformation. The emergence of the radical center from the suffocating shackles of the Catholic Church and corrosive Nationalism unleashed a wave of individual creativity that drove innovation and economic growth. An obvious parallel in history is how the Italian Renissance stimulated a wave of creative artistic brilliance which ushered in a golden age of economic prosperity and helped Europe emerge from the dark ages into the light. Individual freedom gives rise to innovation and economic development, not the other way round as some economists hypothesize.
Ireland today is one of the World's wealthiest small Nations, and whilst not a complete bed of roses, is nonetheless a rare example of moderation, tolerance and unity in a Europe and Wider World riven by division, xenophobia and the rise of populism and extremism.
Mc Williams takes us on a virtual tour of the new Ireland told through the experiences of caricatures from members of the Republic's different social strata; whilst funny, the reader definitely needs to be Irish born and reared to get even 30% of this stuff. Whilst pointing out some threats to Ireland's prosperity and balanced society coming from bedgrudgerry, income inequality, technological change and the dangers of groupthink, he thankfully doesn't dwell too much on the dreaded B-word and finishes on an overall outlook of optimism for the future - a rare thing in our uncertain World today.
David McWilliams, Ireland's rock star economist, is sometimes chastised in the Irish press as a doom and gloom merchant, but rather than being a rant against the Church and Gombeen-man culture, this is instead a positive, upbeat celebration of the power of liberal thought, inclusion and optimism in bringing about transformation. The emergence of the radical center from the suffocating shackles of the Catholic Church and corrosive Nationalism unleashed a wave of individual creativity that drove innovation and economic growth. An obvious parallel in history is how the Italian Renissance stimulated a wave of creative artistic brilliance which ushered in a golden age of economic prosperity and helped Europe emerge from the dark ages into the light. Individual freedom gives rise to innovation and economic development, not the other way round as some economists hypothesize.
Ireland today is one of the World's wealthiest small Nations, and whilst not a complete bed of roses, is nonetheless a rare example of moderation, tolerance and unity in a Europe and Wider World riven by division, xenophobia and the rise of populism and extremism.
Mc Williams takes us on a virtual tour of the new Ireland told through the experiences of caricatures from members of the Republic's different social strata; whilst funny, the reader definitely needs to be Irish born and reared to get even 30% of this stuff. Whilst pointing out some threats to Ireland's prosperity and balanced society coming from bedgrudgerry, income inequality, technological change and the dangers of groupthink, he thankfully doesn't dwell too much on the dreaded B-word and finishes on an overall outlook of optimism for the future - a rare thing in our uncertain World today.
January 24, 2020
A good bit of overlap with DMcW podcast, but that's no bad thing. A great opinion on the economical history of Ireland both North and South, with food for thought on why Ireland can punch above its weight on the world stage.
June 11, 2023
An entertaining gallop through Ireland’s socio-economic position in 2018. Interesting to read post-pandemic where the markers he discusses became so dislocated in the period 2020 - 2022. Worth a read - I always find his work engaging even when I disagree with him.
September 16, 2019
This is a good look at the Ireland of today. But I feel like it was written when the author was excited about a referendum result and maybe is over enthusiastic in his bright forecasts for Ireland’s future. He does recognize the problems but they aren’t made much of.
However it’s a nice change from the doom and gloom that was the Pope’s Children. I don’t remember there being much hope in that book.
However it’s a nice change from the doom and gloom that was the Pope’s Children. I don’t remember there being much hope in that book.
January 20, 2019
Educational and thought provoking written in an amusing easy to read way which even if it does get too clever for its own good in the middle at times is well worth reading.
June 22, 2020
Renaissance Nation is separated into four distinct parts.
In the first, McWilliams outlines his argument that Ireland’s economic success in recent decades is a direct consequence of a national cultural liberalisation led by middle class urbanites. This point is well made if overstated: alternative explanations pertaining to catch-up growth, a strengthening global economy, structural investment from the EU, the entry of women into the workforce, the social partnership system, and investment in higher education are not considered.
Part two features a series of McWilliams’s trademark portraits of modern Irish archetypes, this time lacking the pathos and texture which elevated his previous efforts above crude caricatures of Soccer Moms, chavs, and MAMILs.
Part three constitutes an effort to diagnose the forces holding Ireland back from further growth. By turns scattershot, superficial, derivative, or even unsubstantiated, this is easily the worst part of the book and serves as a cautionary tale for amateur sociologists.
McWilliams returns to the safer ground of economics in part four with a neat discussion of the interplay between land, inequality, and development in Ireland before concluding with two good chapters on corporation tax and Northern Ireland.
The book is “of the moment”, meaning that in a few years it will probably be available in charity shops for one third its current retail price. Buy it then or get it in the library and pay special attention the bibliography of better books at the end.
In the first, McWilliams outlines his argument that Ireland’s economic success in recent decades is a direct consequence of a national cultural liberalisation led by middle class urbanites. This point is well made if overstated: alternative explanations pertaining to catch-up growth, a strengthening global economy, structural investment from the EU, the entry of women into the workforce, the social partnership system, and investment in higher education are not considered.
Part two features a series of McWilliams’s trademark portraits of modern Irish archetypes, this time lacking the pathos and texture which elevated his previous efforts above crude caricatures of Soccer Moms, chavs, and MAMILs.
Part three constitutes an effort to diagnose the forces holding Ireland back from further growth. By turns scattershot, superficial, derivative, or even unsubstantiated, this is easily the worst part of the book and serves as a cautionary tale for amateur sociologists.
McWilliams returns to the safer ground of economics in part four with a neat discussion of the interplay between land, inequality, and development in Ireland before concluding with two good chapters on corporation tax and Northern Ireland.
The book is “of the moment”, meaning that in a few years it will probably be available in charity shops for one third its current retail price. Buy it then or get it in the library and pay special attention the bibliography of better books at the end.
March 22, 2020
A book of incredibly astute observations about contemporary Ireland. The author loves a good pun or catchy term for a phenomenon but bear with the glut of these that appear early on, they become a great storytelling method as the book goes on. I'm a relative newcomer to Ireland so for anyone in a similar position, you can use this book as a decent guide to how much you understand about your new home, where it has come from and where it is going. I initially wanted to hold back on a fifth star for this but the only reason I could come up with was my personal preference for more charts and statistics to be included.
June 3, 2022
Mixed feelings. Quite a large part was very waffly with alot of repetition and fancy unnecessary words. Read alot like a ross o'carroll kelly book which is an acquired taste....not for me. That said the 4th section was alot more succinct and interesting and good discussion on the need for wealth taxation vs income taxation (in the context of property sitting idle) and also the comparison of economy and lifestyle of Ireland vs Northern Ireland.
February 21, 2020
I loved the book and am a massive fan of David McWilliams but the 3 stars are because there was a lot of this content on the podcast which I’ve listened to through and through already. Still I think his thoughts on a unified Ireland along with how to use funds provided by the multinationals really intriguing and it’s just a very entertaining read to top it all off.
December 31, 2020
David McWilliams is a braggart who goes light on the data and long of the special Irish spirit as the basis of their success. He doesn't explain how a nation went from one of Europe's poorest to a leader of the pack in the span of a generation.
March 15, 2021
A review of Ireland’s economy for Joe Public! David is gifted at making the complex comprehensible. A Funny, insightful and optimistic look at the forces that shaped modern Ireland and ideas on how we can approach future challenges and come out on top.
July 12, 2019
An excellent read. Very well written and no doubt useful in an academic context. I would recommend all Irish people read this!! Well done David, this is a really fantastic piece of work.
January 10, 2022
Very informative. I learned a lot about the Irish economy in an easy to digest way.
January 12, 2022
Great book, every Irish person should read
April 29, 2022
A good synopsis of the transformation of the irish economic landscape over the decades but not enough economic content for me.
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January 6, 2020I agree with Leo Varadkar's review of the essay here:
https://www.independent.ie/entertainm...
https://www.independent.ie/entertainm...
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews