The National Being: Some Thoughts on an Irish Polity

In 'National Being: Some Thoughts on an Irish Polity', George William Russell reflects on the birth of the State of Ireland in the midst of World War I and the challenges it faced. He argues that a nation's external circumstances are a measure of its inner life, and therefore, building a civilization worthy of Ireland's struggles requires a focus on both the body and soul of the national being. To do this, he believes that the quality of thought engendered in the national being must be of the highest caliber, with a focus on original principles discovered to be fundamental in Irish character. Only then can Ireland achieve true national ideals and build a civilization that is majestic and worthy of respect. Russell's reflections offer a starting point for a deeper meditation on what it means to be Irish and what kind of civilization the people of Ireland want to create.