Brendan O'Leary
Encyclopedia
Brendan O'Leary is an Irish
political scientist
, who is Lauder Professor of Political Science and Director of the Penn Program in Ethnic Conflict at the University of Pennsylvania
, where he was formerly Director of the now-closed Solomon Asch
Center for the Study of Ethnopolitical Conflict. He was formerly a professor at the London School of Economics
.
and the London School of Economics, where he gained his PhD on the Asiatic mode of production
.
O'Leary is the author of numerous influential books about the Northern Ireland
conflict
, many of them co-authored with John McGarry
, who he met when they both attended Saint MacNissi’s College
. McGarry and O'Leary's Policing Northern Ireland: Proposals for a New Start (Blackstaff Press, 1999) is considered to have had a significant influence on the work of the Independent Commission on Policing for Northern Ireland
. He is currently an international advisor to the Kurdistan National Assembly
, responsible for advising on the constitutional reconstruction of Iraq
and Kurdistan, with special responsibility for federal arrangements and electoral laws. He has also advised the United Nations
, the European Union
and the UK's Department for International Development
. Previously, he was a policy advisor to the British Labour Party
, and political advisor to Mo Mowlam
and Kevin McNamara
during their respective spells as Shadow Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
. In the course of his career he has supervised more than thirty doctoral dissertations, including those of political scientists Stefan Wolff
and Tristan James Mabry
.
In both his own writings and those with John McGarry, O'Leary has long backed consociationalism
as a method of conflict management
for Northern Ireland, and is supportive of the Good Friday Agreement. In this regard, Arend Lijphart
has been a significant influence on O'Leary's work. In 2009, a book entitled Consociational Theory: McGarry and O'Leary and the Northern Ireland Conflict was published, edited by Rupert Taylor
.
He is also the author of How to Get Out of Iraq with Integrity (University of Pennsylvania Press
, 2009).
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
political scientist
Political science
Political Science is a social science discipline concerned with the study of the state, government and politics. Aristotle defined it as the study of the state. It deals extensively with the theory and practice of politics, and the analysis of political systems and political behavior...
, who is Lauder Professor of Political Science and Director of the Penn Program in Ethnic Conflict at the University of Pennsylvania
University of Pennsylvania
The University of Pennsylvania is a private, Ivy League university located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. Penn is the fourth-oldest institution of higher education in the United States,Penn is the fourth-oldest using the founding dates claimed by each institution...
, where he was formerly Director of the now-closed Solomon Asch
Solomon Asch
Solomon Eliot Asch , also known as Shlaym, was an American Gestalt psychologist and pioneer in social psychology.-Early life and education:...
Center for the Study of Ethnopolitical Conflict. He was formerly a professor at the London School of Economics
London School of Economics
The London School of Economics and Political Science is a public research university specialised in the social sciences located in London, United Kingdom, and a constituent college of the federal University of London...
.
Biography
O'Leary studied at Keble College, OxfordKeble College, Oxford
Keble College is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England. Its main buildings are on Parks Road, opposite the University Museum and the University Parks. The college is bordered to the north by Keble Road, to the south by Museum Road, and to the west by Blackhall...
and the London School of Economics, where he gained his PhD on the Asiatic mode of production
Asiatic mode of production
The theory of the Asiatic mode of production was devised by Karl Marx around the early 1850s. The essence of the theory has been described as "[the] suggestion .....
.
O'Leary is the author of numerous influential books about the Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...
conflict
The Troubles
The Troubles was a period of ethno-political conflict in Northern Ireland which spilled over at various times into England, the Republic of Ireland, and mainland Europe. The duration of the Troubles is conventionally dated from the late 1960s and considered by many to have ended with the Belfast...
, many of them co-authored with John McGarry
John McGarry
John McGarry is a political scientist from Northern Ireland. He was born in Belfast and grew up in Ballymena, County Antrim. He is currently Professor of Political Studies and Canada Research Chair in Nationalism and Democracy at Queen's University in Kingston, Ontario...
, who he met when they both attended Saint MacNissi’s College
Garron Tower
IMPORTANT: This page concerns a school which no longer exists, for the current school operating in its campus, see St Killian's CollegeSt MacNissi's College, now St Killian's College was a grammar school located to the north of Larne, which was once Northern Ireland's busiest port...
. McGarry and O'Leary's Policing Northern Ireland: Proposals for a New Start (Blackstaff Press, 1999) is considered to have had a significant influence on the work of the Independent Commission on Policing for Northern Ireland
Independent Commission on Policing for Northern Ireland
The Independent Commission on Policing for Northern Ireland was established in 1998 as part of the Belfast Agreement, intended as a major step in the Northern Ireland peace process. Chaired by Conservative politician Chris Patten, it was better known as the Patten Commission. The other members of...
. He is currently an international advisor to the Kurdistan National Assembly
Kurdistan National Assembly
The Iraqi Kurdistan Parliament or IKP is the parliament of Kurdistan Regional Government in Iraqi Kurdistan. The IKP is made up of representatives from the various parties, lists or slates that are elected every four years to serve by the inhabitants of the provinces of Iraqi Kurdistan currently...
, responsible for advising on the constitutional reconstruction of Iraq
Iraq
Iraq ; officially the Republic of Iraq is a country in Western Asia spanning most of the northwestern end of the Zagros mountain range, the eastern part of the Syrian Desert and the northern part of the Arabian Desert....
and Kurdistan, with special responsibility for federal arrangements and electoral laws. He has also advised the United Nations
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
, the European Union
European Union
The European Union is an economic and political union of 27 independent member states which are located primarily in Europe. The EU traces its origins from the European Coal and Steel Community and the European Economic Community , formed by six countries in 1958...
and the UK's Department for International Development
Department for International Development
The Department For International Development is a United Kingdom government department with a Cabinet Minister in charge. It was separated from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in 1997. The goal of the department is "to promote sustainable development and eliminate world poverty". The current...
. Previously, he was a policy advisor to the British Labour Party
Labour Party (UK)
The Labour Party is a centre-left democratic socialist party in the United Kingdom. It surpassed the Liberal Party in general elections during the early 1920s, forming minority governments under Ramsay MacDonald in 1924 and 1929-1931. The party was in a wartime coalition from 1940 to 1945, after...
, and political advisor to Mo Mowlam
Mo Mowlam
Marjorie "Mo" Mowlam was a British Labour Party politician. She was the Member of Parliament for Redcar from 1987 to 2001 and served in the Cabinet as Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Minister for the Cabinet Office and Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster.Mowlam's time as Northern...
and Kevin McNamara
Kevin McNamara (politician)
Dr. Joseph Kevin McNamara, KSG is a British Labour Party politician who served as a Member of Parliament for almost 40 years.-Early life:...
during their respective spells as Shadow Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
Shadow Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
The Shadow Secretary of State for Northern Ireland is a member of the UK Shadow Cabinet responsible for the scrutiny of the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland and his department, the Northern Ireland Office. The post is currently held by Shaun Woodward...
. In the course of his career he has supervised more than thirty doctoral dissertations, including those of political scientists Stefan Wolff
Stefan Wolff
Stefan Wolff is a German political scientist. He is a specialist in international security, particularly in the management, settlement and prevention of ethnic conflicts. He is currently Professor of International Security at the University of Birmingham in the United Kingdom...
and Tristan James Mabry
Tristan James Mabry
Tristan James Mabry is an American political scientist in the Department of National Security Affairs at the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, California...
.
In both his own writings and those with John McGarry, O'Leary has long backed consociationalism
Consociationalism
Consociationalism is a form of government involving guaranteed group representation, and is often suggested for managing conflict in deeply divided societies...
as a method of conflict management
Conflict management
Conflict management involves implementing strategies to limit the negative aspects of conflict and to increase the positive aspects of conflict at a level equal to or higher than where the conflict is taking place. Furthermore, the aim of conflict management is to enhance learning and group outcomes...
for Northern Ireland, and is supportive of the Good Friday Agreement. In this regard, Arend Lijphart
Arend Lijphart
Arend d'Angremond Lijphart is a world renowned political scientist specializing in comparative politics, elections and voting systems, democratic institutions, and ethnicity and politics. He received his PhD in Political Science at Yale University in 1963, after studying at the University of...
has been a significant influence on O'Leary's work. In 2009, a book entitled Consociational Theory: McGarry and O'Leary and the Northern Ireland Conflict was published, edited by Rupert Taylor
Rupert Taylor
Rupert Taylor is Associate Professor of Political Studies at the University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg. He completed a BA degree in Politics and Government at the University of Kent in 1980, followed by an MSc at the London School of Economics in 1981 and a PhD in Sociology at Kent,...
.
He is also the author of How to Get Out of Iraq with Integrity (University of Pennsylvania Press
University of Pennsylvania Press
The University of Pennsylvania Press is a university press affiliated with the University of Pennsylvania located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania....
, 2009).