Background

About

I have been at Newcastle University since 2004.  I am a political theorist with a special interest in deliberative democracy, though I also have an interest in more applied topics such as power sharing and referendums.  My books include Deliberative Democracy and Divided Societies (Edinburgh University Press, 2006) and Deliberative Peace Referendums (Oxford University Press, 2021), and my articles have appeared in journals such as British Journal of Political Science, Political Studies, and Politics, Philosophy & Economics.  I was a postdoctoral research fellow at the University of Essex and have also held visiting positions at Harvard University, the University of Pennsylvania and the Australian National University.

I am one of the editors of the ECPR Press.  If you are interested in publishing a book with us, then please feel free to contact me.  I am also an associate editor of the ECPR's new open access journal, Political Research Exchange (PRX).

Qualifications

PhD (2002) Queen's University, Belfast

MA (1998) University College, Cork

BA (1996) University College, Cork

BMus (1988) University College, Cork

Research

Research Interests 

• Political theory, especially deliberative democracy, referendums, compromise, the public interest, shared intentions.  
• Comparative politics, especially nationalism and ethnicity, power sharing, electoral systems, vetoes, civil society.

Teaching

Undergraduate Teaching

POL3059 Democracy and the Constitution (module leader; semester 1)

POL3106 Democracy in Deeply Divided Societies (module leader; semester 2)

Publications

• Levy R, O'Flynn I, Kong H. Deliberative Peace Referendums. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2021. In Press.
• Levy R, O'Flynn I. The Role of Deliberative Peace Referendums in the Constitutional Settlement of Conflict. In: James Gardner, ed. Comparative Election Law. Cheltenham, UK: Edward Elgar, 2021. Submitted.
• O'Flynn I, Setälä M. Deliberative disagreement and compromise. Critical Review of International Social and Political Philosophy 2020, epub ahead of print.
• O'Flynn I, Levy R. Deliberative Referendums in Deeply Divided Societies. University of British Columbia Law Review 2020, 53(1), 205-240.
• O'Flynn I. Democratic Innovations and Theories of Democracy. In: Elstub, S; Escobar, O, ed. The Handbook of Democratic Innovation and Governance. Cheltenham, UK: Edward Elgar, 2019, pp.32-44.
• O'Flynn I, Sood G, Mistaffa J, Saeed N. What Future for Kirkuk? Evidence from a deliberative intervention. Democratization 2019, 26(7), 1299-1317.
• O'Flynn I, Caluwearts D. Deliberation in Deeply Divided Societies. In: Bächtiger, A; Dryzek, J; Mansbridge, J; Warren, M, ed. Oxford Handbook of Deliberative Democracy. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2018, pp.742-754.
• Levy R, Simpson A, O'Flynn I, Flaherty G. Designing Referendums for Peacemaking: The Case of Bougainville. Australasian Parliamentary Review 2018, 33(1), 6-40.
• O'Flynn I. Pulling Together: Shared Intentions, Deliberative Democracy and Deeply Divided Societies. British Journal of Political Science 2017, 47(1), 187-202.
• O'Flynn I, Elstub S, Luhiste M. Report on the Northern Ireland Deliberative Forum on Social Care. Newcastle: Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission, 2017.
• O'Flynn I, Russell D. Deepening Democracy: The Role of Civil Society. In: Cordell, K; Wolff, S, ed. Routledge Handbook of Ethnic Conflict: Second edition. London: Routledge, 2016, pp.219-228.
• O'Flynn I. Deliberative Democracy for a Great Society. Political Studies Review 2015, 13(2), 207–216.
• O'Flynn I, Curato N. Deliberative democratization: a framework for systemic analysis. Policy Studies 2015, 36(3), 298-313.
• Luskin R, O'Flynn I, Fishkin J, Russell D. Deliberating Across Deep Divides. Political Studies 2014, 62(1), 116-135.
• Cinalli M, O'Flynn I. Pluralism and Deliberative Democracy. In: Elstub, S; McLaverty, P, ed. Deliberative Democracy: Issues and Cases. Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press, 2014, pp.82-97.
• Cinalli M, O'Flynn I. Public Deliberation, Network Analysis and the Political Integration of Muslims in Britain. British Journal of Politics and International Relations 2014, 16(3), 428-451.
• O'Flynn I, Sood G. What Would Dahl Say?: An Appraisal of the Democratic Credentials of Deliberative Polls and Other Mini-Publics. In: Grönlund, K; Bächtiger, A; Setälä, M, ed. Deliberative Mini-Publics: Practices, Promises, Pitfalls. Colchester, London: ECPR Press, 2014, pp.41-58.
• Jones P, O'Flynn I. Can a Compromise be Fair?. Politics, Philosophy and Economics 2013, 12(2), 115-135.
• O'Flynn I, Weale A, ed. The Value and Limits of Rights: Essays in Honour of Peter Jones. London: Routledge, 2013.
• Jones P, O'Flynn I. Internal Conflict, the International Community and the Promotion of Principled Compromise. Government and Opposition 2012, 47(3), 395-413.
• O'Flynn I, Weale A. Introduction: The value and limits of rights: essays in honour of Peter Jones. Critical Review of International Social and Political Philosophy (Special Issue on 'The Value and Limits of Rights: Essays in Honour of Peter Jones') 2012, 15(4), 387-394.
• O'Flynn I, Russell D. Deepening Democracy: The Role of Civil Society. In: Cordell, K; Wolff, S, ed. Routledge Handbook of Ethnic Conflict. London: Routledge, 2011, pp.225-235.
• O'Flynn I, Russell D. Should Peace Agreements Recognise Women?. Ethnopolitics 2011, 10(1), 35-50.
• O'Flynn I. Taking the Broader View: The Public Interest, Deliberative Democracy and Political Ethics. In: Brooks, T, ed. New Waves in Ethics. Basingstoke, UK: Palgrave, 2011, pp.259-277.
• O'Flynn I. Deliberating About the Public Interest. Res Publica 2010, 16(3), 299-315.
• O'Flynn I. Deliberative Democracy, the Public Interest and the Consociational Model. Political Studies 2010, 58(3), 572-589.
• O'Flynn I. Democratic Theory and Practice in Deeply Divided Societies. Representation 2010, 46(3), 281-293.
• O'Flynn I. Progressive Integration (and Accommodation, too). In: Taylor R, ed. Consociational Theory: McGarry/O’Leary and the Northern Ireland Conflict. London: Routledge, 2009, pp.264-278.
• O'Flynn I. Democratic Autonomy, Women’s Interests and Institutional Context. In: de Wispelaere J; McBride C; O’Neill S, ed. Recognition, Equality and Democracy: Theoretical Perspectives on Irish Politics. London: Routledge, 2008, pp.61-77.
• O'Sullivan P, O'Flynn I, Russell D. Education and A Shared Future: Options for Sharing and Collaboration in Northern Ireland Schools. Belfast: Queen's University Belfast, 2008.
• Fishkin J, Luskin R, O'Flynn I, Russell D. A Deliberative Poll on Education: What Provision do Informed Parents in Northern Ireland Want?. Newcastle upon Tyne: Newcastle University, 2007.
• O'Flynn I. Democratic Autonomy, Women's Interests and Institutional Context. Irish Political Studies 2007, 22(4), 455-471.
• O'Flynn I. Divided Societies and Deliberative Democracy. British Journal of Political Science 2007, 37(4), 731-751.
• O'Flynn I. Deliberative Democracy and Divided Societies. Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press, 2006.
• O'Flynn I. Democratic Values and Power Sharing. In: O'Flynn I; Russell D, ed. Power Sharing: New Challenges for Divided Societies. London: Pluto, 2005, pp.15-29.
• O'Flynn I, Russell D, ed. Power Sharing: New Challenges for Divided Societies. London: Pluto, 2005.
• O'Flynn I. Why Justice Can't Have It All: In Reply to O'Neill. Ethnicities 2004, 4(4), 545-561.
• O'Flynn I. Northern Ireland. In: Gilland K; Kennedy F, ed. Irish Political Studies: Data Yearbook 2002. London: Frank Cass, 2003, pp.88-108.
• O'Flynn I. The Problem of Recognising Individual and National Identities: A Liberal Critique of the Belfast Agreement. Critical Review of International Social and Political Philosophy 2003, 6(3), 129-153.