1、英语国家社会与文化入门英语国家社会与文化入门(上册）上册）The Society and Culture of Major English-Speaking CountriesAn Introduction(Book One)IrelandUnit 12 Politics and Economy Quiz Give the English and a brief explanation for the following:1.代议制民主2.权力制衡3.经济转型4.欧洲联盟5.跨国公司Focal Points representative democracy checks and balance
2、s Irish legal system economic transformation Irelands accession to the EU social change multinational culture new prosperity new inequalityThis Unit Is Divided into Three SectionsI.PoliticsII.EconomyIII.Ireland TodayI.PoliticsIreland is a representative democracy:most of its offices are filled throu
3、gh election by the Irish citizens.The system is based on the American principle of“checks and balances”.The President is an elected symbolic head of state(elected every 7 years)The Prime Minister and the Cabinet(the executive branch)are collectively responsible to the Irish Parliament(elected every
4、5 years)Civil Service is non-political and responsible for administering government policies.Laws are enforced through courts of various levels(district court,circuit court,high court,and supreme court)and the jury system.The Principle of checks and balances was put forward by Montesquieu and practi
5、ced by the American Constitutional Convention in 1787.Under the principle of the separation of powers(checks and balances),the state is divided into branches,each with separate and independent powers and areas of responsibility.The typical division of branches is into a legislature,an executive,and
6、a judiciary.The sole power of making laws(legislature)for the state is vested in the Irish Parliament which is comprised of the Dail(lower house)and the Seanad or the Senate.Layout of the Irish Dail (Lower House)with the system of proportional representationThe President acts as a symbolic Head of S
7、tate and is elected every 7 years,and can be reelected once only.ras an Uachtarin is the official residence of the PresidentThe current president is Michael D.Higgins,who was elected on 29 October 2011.The executive powers of the state are exercised by the Government headed by the Prime Minister or
8、TaoiseachThe current Taoiseach(P.M.)Enda Kenny(left);Department of the Taoiseach at Government Buildings,Merrion Street,Dublin(right)Laws are enforced through courts of various levels(district court,circuit court,high court,and supreme court)and the jury system.A simplified diagram of the courts sys
9、tem in IrelandIn accordance with most Western nations,justice is administered in courts of law administered by a judge appointed by the President on the advice of the Government.The Four Courts,completed in 1802,is the location of the Supreme Court,the High Court and the Dublin Circuit Court.The law
10、 of Ireland is historically based on English common law and had a similar jury system.Normally consisting of twelve persons,juries are selected from a jury panel which is picked at random by the county registrar from the electoral register.JuriesII.EconomyIreland has a small,open,trade-dependent eco
11、nomy(65%service employment,28%industry employment,7%agriculture employment).Ireland experienced fast economic growth from 1995 to 2005 and its GDP doubled during the period.Population boom,education reform(better and more equal),legislation on womens work rights,and conversion to market economics ar
12、e believed to be the major reasons behind the economic boom.House prices rose quickly(quadrupled in Dublin)due to free flow of labor within EU and economic boom(Celtic Tiger).Multinational companies increased their investment in Ireland.Rapid economic development resulted in bubbles and their bust.T
13、he economy of Ireland focuses on services and high-tech industries and is dependent on trade,industry and investment.The International Financial Services Centre in Dublin,with the Famine MemorialIreland joined the Common Market(now known as the EU)in 1973 and currently a member state of the Eurozone
14、.Ireland is part of the EU single market and Eurozone(dark blue)Thanks to the EU structural funds and other factors,Ireland experienced unprecedented economic growth and its GNP almost doubled from 1995 to 2005.EU structural funds helped to improve the infrastructure in Ireland:InterCity train at He
15、uston station(left);Terminal 2 at Dublin Airport(right)Population boom,education reform(better and more equal),legislation on womens work rights,and conversion to market economics are the major reasons behind the economic boom.University College Cork was founded in 1845 and is a constituent universi
16、ty of the National University of Ireland.From about 60%of the European average,Irish incomes went to 110%.House prices in Dublin quadrupled.Housing Boom:A housing construction site in Dublin at Sandyford,2006The Celtic Tiger attracted a lot of investment from international companies which provided j
17、obs but also caused bubbles and outflow of profits.A wind farm in County WexfordThe Post-2008 Irish banking crisis led to a number of financial institutions requiring government assistance.Joe Higgins,a MEP speaking outside Anglo Irish Bank during a protest against the bank bailout in 2010.III.Irela
18、nd TodayIn the last decades of the 20th century,Ireland experienced radical changes financially,socially and morally.Todays Irish young people are more likely to think of their future more in global rather than local terms.Because of the housing boom,Ireland has one of the highest rates of home-owne
19、rship in Europe.Rapid modernization and urbanization caused frequent traffic jam and more car accidents.Over the last two decades,Irelands living standards have first increased dramatically and then taken a sudden shocking downturn.There were serious corruption issues during the economic boom,which
20、largely caused the bubbles and the financial crisis after 2008.Ireland ranks among the wealthiest countries in the world in terms of GDP per capita.After joining the EEC,Ireland enacted a series of liberal economic policies that resulted in rapid economic growth,coupled with a dramatic rise in inequ
21、ality.The labour productivity level of Ireland is one of highest in Europe.(OECD,2012)Over the last 40 years,strenuous efforts have been made by the Irish government to transform Ireland from a traditional agricultural economy into a post-industrial economy.Dublin City Centre:witnessing economic boo
22、m and social changesThe post-2008 Irish economic downturn followed a period of exceptionally high economic growth,house price inflation,and expansion in bank lending in the early 2000s.Workers march through Dublin against the governments response to the financial crisis,2009.Todays Irish young peopl
23、e are more likely to think of their future more in global rather than local terms.Music band:The FramesRapid urbanization and availability of cars caused frequent traffic jams and more car accidents.Even small towns like this cannot avoid traffic congestion.Ireland has one of the most developed syst
24、ems of healthcare in the world.Healthcare professionals are highly trained.RCSI Disease and Research Centre at Beaumont Hospital in Dublin cityIrish women enjoy equal rights with men in education and employment thanks to Irelands entry into the EU which requires more liberal legislation on equal rig
25、hts.Mary Patricia McAleese(1951-)served as the eighth President of Ireland from 1997 to 2011.Tourism in the Republic of Ireland is one of the biggest contributors to the economy of the country,with over 6.2 million people visiting Ireland in 2011,about 1.4 times Irelands population.Women playing mus
26、ic in the Dublin St.Patricks Day Parade.Questions for DiscussionA.Describe the structure of the Irish government.B.What is the principle of checks and balances?C.What are the causes of the economic boom in Ireland?D.What benefits has Ireland received from joining the EU?E.What are some of the existing problems in the Irish society today?The End高等教育出版社2015
