Renewing the Republic
Michael D. Higgins
Liberties Press
RRP €17:99

(€14.99 on libertiespress.com)

Released shortly before the presidential election, Renewing the Republic,  is a collection of speeches and articles from Michael D. Higgins from the past decade which cover themes of citizenship and the republic; culture, identity and reputation; human rights; language; globalisation, emigration and exile; and the public space.

The book includes Michael D’s last speech to the Dáil and his vision of the Irish Presidency.  I read a chapter last week during the two budgets and wondered what Michael D. might have been thinking then.

On Citizenship he writes a paragraph that resonates as many do throughout the book.

We are drifting to a final rupture between the economy, politics and society.  If this happens, the ensuing conflict will not be mediated through trade unions, political parties or social movements. It will be a naked confrontation between, on the one side, the wealthy getting wealthier, and the poor getting poorer; between the excluded and the powerful; between the technologically sophisticated and the technologically manipulated.  It will be a conflict as raw as any in the history of private accumulation between, on the one hand, consumers and, on the other, the excluded poor, who no longer have any norms of citizenship that they share or which would mediate their conflict.

If you would like to win a copy of the book please leave a comment below.  Closing Date 17 December. 

It is a lovely collection with something in it for the political, artistic, creative and is clear and honest and will as ever with Michael D make you think.  Perhaps buy a copy for the Labour TD in your life, they might learn something.  (PS Hope MDH is making a speedy recovery.)