How Ireland Voted 2016: The Election that Nobody Won - Detailed

In this review of How Ireland Voted 2016: The Election that Nobody Won the authors present a thorough, evidence-based account for readers interested in Irish politics and electoral behaviour. The book is best for students, political analysts and engaged voters wanting a clear postmortem of the 2016 general election; its single biggest selling point is the detailed, chaptered analysis that links pre-election context, candidate selection and campaign strategy to the final vote patterns.

Key Features

• Definitive analysis: The book offers a chaptered, systematic examination of the 2016 Irish general election that helps readers understand why the election produced such fragmented outcomes.
• Contextual framing: The opening chapter sets the scene by explaining how the earlier 2011 election and subsequent economic recovery shaped voter expectations and party performance.
• Candidate selection insight: A dedicated chapter examines how candidate selection affected party fortunes and contributed to the rise of smaller parties and independents.
• Campaign strategy assessment: Authors evaluate the effectiveness of campaign strategies across parties, enabling readers to compare what worked and what did not.
• Voter behaviour focus: Later chapters analyse the behaviour of voters and the distribution of support, clarifying why nearly half of votes went to smaller parties and independents.

Who It's For

This book is ideal for political scientists, journalism students and practitioners in Irish politics seeking a comprehensive, research-driven account of the 2016 general election. It is also useful for comparativists who want a case study of how a recovering economy can still see dramatic electoral shifts.

Readers looking for a brief overview, a quick timeline, or a popular history with anecdotal storytelling should look elsewhere; this volume is written as a scholarly review with measured assessment rather than light reading.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Thorough, chaptered investigation that connects context, policy and outcomes.
• Useful analysis of candidate selection and its electoral consequences.
• Clear treatment of voter behaviour that explains the rise of smaller parties and independents.

Cons

• The book is analytical and dense in places, which may be challenging for casual readers.

Specifications

Our Verdict

How Ireland Voted 2016 is a well-structured, authoritative account for anyone who needs a serious, research-led explanation of the 2016 election and why traditional party strength declined. It is good value for students and analysts who want depth and clear linkage between context, campaign choices and voter behaviour.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does this book cover the causes of the 2016 electoral shift?
Yes. It traces causes including the aftermath of 2011, government performance and candidate selection effects.

Is this volume suitable for casual readers?
Not primarily; its analytical, chaptered approach suits readers seeking depth rather than light narrative.

Is this part of a series?
Yes. It is the eighth book in the established How Ireland Voted series.