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The politics of the [[Republic of Ireland]] are unusual in terms of Western European politics, and indeed United States politics also, in that the Irish political spectrum is not divided between liberal and conservative parties. Rather the genesis of the current Irish political structure lies in the Irish Civil War of 1922 - 1923. The war was fought as a result of the Anglo-Irish Treaty, which granted self-rule to 26 of Ireland's 32 counties, with the remaining six (which would become [[Northern Ireland]] remaining under British rule.

'''The politics of the [[Republic of Ireland]]''' are unusual in terms of Western European politics, and indeed United States politics also, in that the Irish political spectrum is not divided between liberal and conservative parties. Rather the genesis of the current Irish political structure lies in the Irish Civil War of 1922 - 1923. The war was fought as a result of the Anglo-Irish Treaty, which granted self-rule to 26 of Ireland's 32 counties, with the remaining six (which would become [[Northern Ireland]] remaining under British rule.

The treaty was a divisive issue, and caused a split in the early [[Sinn Féin]] party. Those who supported the treaty renamed their branch of the party ''Cumann na nGaedheal'' (later to become [[Fine Gael]], and formed the first official Irish government. The anti-treaty side remained 'Sinn Féin', and abstained from the new Dáil in protest until 1926, when under [[Eamon de Valera]] they formed the new [[Fianna Fáil]] party and entered parliament, winning election in 1932. Those that did not follow de Valera into Fianna Fáil remained outside the parliament, evolving into the [[Sinn Féin]] party which still exists today.  

The treaty was a divisive issue, and caused a split in the early [[Sinn Féin]] party. Those who supported the treaty renamed their branch of the party ''Cumann na nGaedheal'' (later to become [[Fine Gael]], and formed the first official Irish government. The anti-treaty side remained 'Sinn Féin', and abstained from the new Dáil in protest until 1926, when under [[Eamon de Valera]] they formed the new [[Fianna Fáil]] party and entered parliament, winning election in 1932. Those that did not follow de Valera into Fianna Fáil remained outside the parliament, evolving into the [[Sinn Féin]] party which still exists today.  

In more recent years, the [[Progressive Democrats]] (PDs) and the Irish [[Green Party]] have played important roles in Irish politics. The PDs, formed in 1985 and in government from 1997 until their disbanding in 2008, espoused an economically conservative ideology, while at the same time professing to be socially liberal. This claim was often called into question by those who observed PD members holding more conservative stances on issues. The Greens are an environmentalist party, and socially liberal, however since entering government with Fianna Fáil in 2007 many of their supporters have accused them of "selling out" their policies simply to be in power.

In more recent years, the [[Progressive Democrats]] (PDs) and the Irish [[Green Party]] have played important roles in Irish politics. The PDs, formed in 1985 and in government from 1997 until their disbanding in 2008, espoused an economically conservative ideology, while at the same time professing to be socially liberal. This claim was often called into question by those who observed PD members holding more conservative stances on issues. The Greens are an environmentalist party, and socially liberal, however since entering government with Fianna Fáil in 2007 many of their supporters have accused them of "selling out" their policies simply to be in power.