Document Type
Senior Thesis
Publication Date
Spring 2026
Abstract
This thesis examines the impact of how British colonial rule led to the decline of Irish cultural components, such as Gaelic (Gaeilge), and how postcolonial revival efforts have shaped Ireland’s modern identity and its use of soft power in international relations. Drawing on mobilization and postcolonial theories, this paper defines key concepts, mobilization, remobilization, and postcolonial identity, to provide an analytical foundation. The analysis explores how colonial policies eroded Irish culture and language, intensified by the Great Famine, and how the Irish Diaspora serves as a global network for remobilizing Irish identity abroad. The ongoing conflicts in Northern Ireland will be reviewed as a current example of contested postcolonial identities and limitations of remobilization, providing insight into how cultural identity remains a central component of postcolonial conflict. The study links each case study to the theoretical frameworks, illustrating how the remobilization of Irish identity has strengthened Ireland’s soft power and shaped its position on a global scale, while historical events continue to influence its international relations.
Recommended Citation
Boyd, Emma, "Made in Ireland: A Postcolonial Analysis of Irish Cultural Revival and Its Impact on Ireland’s International Relations" (2026). Political Science Student Papers and Posters. 14.
https://digitalcommons.chapman.edu/polisci_student_work/14
Copyright
The author
Included in
Cultural History Commons, European History Commons, International Relations Commons, Other History Commons, Other Political Science Commons, Political History Commons, Public History Commons, Social History Commons
Comments
A thesis paper for Political Science 420, taught by Dr. Andrea Molle.