Topologies and topographies of Ireland's neoliberal crisis

• Published in: Space & polity Vol. 19; no. 1; pp. 31 - 46
• Main Authors: O'Callaghan, Cian, Kelly, Sinéad, Boyle, Mark, Kitchin, Rob
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Abingdon Routledge 02-01-2015; Taylor & Francis Ltd
• Subjects: Area planning & development; Debt; Development; Finance; Financial crisis; ghost estates; Global economy; Ireland; Narratives; neoliberal topographies; Neoliberalism; Political analysis; Political crises; Property; property crash; Sovereign debt; Topography; Topology; Ireland
• ISSN: 1356-2576; 1470-1235
• DOI: 10.1080/13562576.2014.991120

In this paper, we explore successive waves of neoliberalization in Ireland. We contend that neoliberalization remained largely "invisible" during the Celtic Tiger because a property bubble permitted a period of debt-driven growth, but was revealed and politicized by the crisis. Mobilizing the ideas of topology and topography, we explore the relationships which unfolded between the "financialization" of the global economy and the two twin pillars of the Irish crisis narrative: property and debt. We conclude that there is a need for future studies to consider how neoliberalism, financialization and uneven development are being reshaped by geographically situated responses to the crisis.