This book explores everyday identity change and its role in transforming ethnic, national and religious divisions. It uses very extensive interviews in post-conflict Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland in the early 21^st century to compare the extent and the micro-level cultural logics of identity change. It widens comparisons to the Gard in France, and uses multiple methods to reconstruct the impact of identity innovation on social and political outcomes in the 2010s. It shows the irreducible causal importance of identity change for wider compromise after conflict. It speaks to those interested in Cultural Sociology, Politics, Conflict and Peace Studies, Nationalism, Religion, International Relations and European and Irish Studies.

“It remains unclear how this ethic can apply to politicians whose raison d’être depends on ethnic boundary making and who strike fear rather than safety into both in- and out-group members. In some ways, the question is out with the rationale for the book, but having identified the ways that change can occur, a follow-up might be to explore how change can be cultivated. Todd’s book is an indispensable guide to that question and ought to be read by students of identity change.” (Cillian McGrattan, Journal of British Studies, May 12, 2020)

“This book is a profound contribution to our knowledge of identity innovation across the island of Ireland and more broadly. It is an excellent example of how ambitious data collection and deep research can develop theories that provide convincing accounts of complex social phenomena and provide the basis for generalisation.” (Dawn Walsh, Irish Political Studies, April 11, 2019)

Jennifer Todd is Professor in the School of Politics and International Relations, University College Dublin; Member of the Royal Irish Academy; Research Director, Institute for British Irish Studies, UCD; Fernand Braudel Senior Fellow, European University Institute, Florence (2016); Fellow of Geary Institute UCD, (2016-); and Fellow, Political Studies Association of Ireland (2017-9).