In this book, one of the leading authorities on contemporary Northern Ireland politics provides an original, sophisticated and innovative examination of the post-Belfast agreement political landscape. Written in a fluid, witty and accessible style, this book explores:

1. Introduction Part 1: Conditions 2. Fate and Choice 2.1 Iron Cage and Self-Construction 2.2 Process and Action 2.3 Conclusion 3. Means and Ends 3.1 Nostalgia and Imagination 3.2 Conservatism and Radicalism 3.3 Ends and Means 4. Winning and Losing 4.1 Insight and Vision 4.2 Transition and Transformation 4.3 Conclusion Part 2: Modifications 5. New Ideas and Old Arguments 5.1 Inwardness and Outwardness 5.2 Democratic Transformation 5.3 Historic Compromise 6. The Belfast Agreement: Archaeology and Exposition 6.1 The Archaeology of the Agreement 6.2 Institutions of the Belfast Agreement 6.3 Conclusion 7. New Beginning and Modification of Circumstances 7.1 Agreement: Duck or Rabbit? 7.2 A New Beginning 7.3 Modification of Circumstances 7.4 Conclusion Part 3: Consequences 8. Anxiety and Expectation 8.1 Unionist Expectation 8.2 Anxiety of Process 8.3 Anxiety of Influence 8.4 Nationalist Expectation 8.5 Anxiety of Frustration 8.6 Anxiety of Impatience 8.7 Conclusion 9. Lies Noble and Ignoble 9.1 The Noble Lie 9.2 Constructive Ambiguity 9.3 Axioms and Maxims 9.4 Conclusion 10. For Better and For Worse 10.1 A Narrative of Progress 10.2 A Narrative of Regress 10.3 Verschlimmbesserung: For Better and for Worse 10.4 Conclusion