The Symbolic Power of Ireland’s President Robinson
Author(s)
Bresnihan, Valerie
Abstract
Discusses the election of Mary Robinson in 1990 as Ireland’s new president following a bitter campaign and how her election and subsequent popularity in office represent deeply held identifications and ideological positions among the Irish. Robinson gained popular support by maintaining some distance from party politics and through her ability to “blend continuity with change” – giving a voice to the disenfranchised and a “sense of national purpose” at a time when the significance of traditional political influences such as socioeconomic conditions, the Catholic Church and the British was decreasing. The symbolic structures behind the identification between the public and Robinson are studied through a series of interviews with self-described liberal citizens. The perception of Robinson as a nurturing figure representing democratic ideals and the changing culture of her country plays a key role in understanding her significance to the Irish people, even in this “primarily ceremonial” office.
