Recommended Reading | Coalition Politics and Governing in Practice
In an opinion piece for the Sunday Independent, Conor Skehan reflects on coalition politics, drawing on his experience in the formation of Ireland’s 1994 Rainbow Coalition.
The article explores political fragmentation, proportional representation, and the realities of governing in systems where cooperation is not optional but essential. Rather than viewing coalition politics as instability or weakness, Skehan argues that negotiation, compromise, and adaptation can produce durable and creative forms of governance.
As he writes:
“Coalition politics is rarely elegant. It can look awkward, even chaotic. The compromises are visible. The contradictions apparent. But that is not failure. It is the work itself.”
The piece offers a thoughtful perspective on how democratic systems manage competing convictions, political change, and the challenge of governing across difference.
Read the full article by Conor Skehan in the Sunday Independent here:
