Voting Behaviour in the Republic of Ireland

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This is a study of the clash between traditional and modern cultural values in present-day Ireland as indicated by voting behavior from 1981 to 1986 when there were three general elections and two referendums on the sensitive issues of abortion and divorce. Analysis of the results indicates that for many people locality and kinship were still important factors in electoral choice, while traditional Catholic teachings continued to provide the basic guidelines of life. The results also revealed the growth of a significant, mainly urban, minority which was more liberal in outlook and regarded Ireland as a secular society. The conclusions offer valuable information on the effects of the interaction of broad, international economic and social forces on a small, mainly rural country.