Foreign Policy and Domestic Politics: A Study of the 2002 Election in the Republic of Ireland

Abstract

This article examines the extent to which foreign policy featured in the 2002 general election campaign in the Republic of Ireland. We began with the premise that although foreign policy had not featured prominently in previous election campaigns, the evolving crisis in the peace process in Northern Ireland and the ongoing debate over the Nice Treaty might mean that foreign policy was more likely to be part of the campaign debate, and also the subject of party differentiation, in 2002. On reviewing party manifestos, press statements and other aspects of the media campaign, we found clear party differentiation in foreign policy between the parties in their manifestos; however, the campaign in the national media was almost devoid of debate on these issues. In analysing the reasons for the absence of debate, we contrast the dull and static nature of the campaign with the surprising election results. We conclude that although, on the surface, the absence of engagement on foreign policy in the media appears to concur with the dominant view in the literature that foreign policy in not significant in first order elections, inferences can be made that leave the impact of foreign policy on voter behaviour a more open question.