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John O'Brennan is an Irish political scientist. He is a professor of European Politics at the Department of Sociology at Maynooth University in Ireland.[1][2] He holds the Jean Monnet Chair in European Integration at Maynooth University[3] and is director of the Maynooth University Centre for European and Eurasian Studies.[4] From 2020 to 2023, the centre was a designated Jean Monnet Centre of Excellence, with a focus on governance in South-eastern Europe, including EU enlargement issues, rule of law and EU relations with the Western Balkans and Ukraine.[5] O'Brennan is a specialist in EU enlargement policy and also publishes on Ireland's relationship with the European Union (EU).

Education and career

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O'Brennan graduated from the University of Limerick (UL) in 1997 and subsequently completed a PhD at UL in Political Science.[citation needed] From 2000 to 2001, he was a lecturer in European and international politics at Varna University of Economics.[6] He was also a visiting researcher at the European Union Institute for Security Studies in Paris in 2005.[6] From 2001 to 2007, O'Brennan worked as a lecturer in European Union Politics at the University of Limerick.[1] In 2007, he was appointed as lecturer in European Politics and Society at Maynooth University.[6]

Brexit, Ireland and the EU

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O'Brennan is an authority on Brexit and was a member of the Brexit Stakeholder Group, which was convened by the Irish Minister for Foreign Affairs in September 2017.[7] He contributed to several radio and television discussions of Brexit after 2016.[citation needed] His research centre at Maynooth, the Centre for European and Eurasian Studies, hosted a number of public events on Brexit, including an interview with commentator Fintan O'Toole of The Irish Times[8] and discussions at different stages of the Brexit negotiations.[9][10]

In 2021, O'Brennan hosted former BBC Newsnight anchor Gavin Esler in a discussion of his book, How Britain Ends - English Nationalism and the Re-birth of Four Nations, with responses to Esler's book from Professor Brigid Laffan (European University Institute) and Professor Colin Coulter (Maynooth University).[11][12] O'Brennan was interviewed as part of a project devoted to explaining Brexit to school-goers in Ireland.[13]

He has lectured on the European Union, and in 2019 he undertook a lecture tour on Brexit which took in the University of Ljubljana (Slovenia), Rijeka University (Croatia), and the University of Trieste (Italy).[14] He also delivered a lecture on Ireland and Brexit at the Institute of European Studies at the University of California at Berkeley in May 2019.[15] In 2022-23, he delivered a series of lectures examining Ireland’s experience of 50 years of EU membership at Dublin City University’s EU Academy conference,[16] the University of Bucharest,[17][18] and the University of Georgia.[19][18]

O’Brennan is perceived[by whom?] as a champion of European integration but has also been critical of the EU. For example, he has criticised the EU's approach to rule of law violations within the EU and the failures in EU policy towards the Western Balkan states.[20][21][22]

He was a participant in a conference, titled "Ireland and the EU at 50", which was hosted by the Irish Department of Foreign Affairs in Dublin on 27 October 2022.[23] O'Brennan has also contributed to the McGill Summer School[24] and events run by the Royal Irish Academy.[citation needed] Internationally, he has spoken at the Goethe Institute in Nicosia in Cyprus,[25] and has lectured at Glasgow University, Reykjavik University, Leicester University, Leiden University and Marburg University.[citation needed]

O'Brennan was a critic of the Trump administration and did a number of radio and television shows criticising the community in Doonbeg, County Clare, (where the Trump organisation owns a golf course) for welcoming the Trump family.[26][27] There was subsequent criticism of O'Brennan within the Doonbeg community.[28]

EU treaty debates

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O'Brennan was involved in the debates surrounding ratification of the Nice and Lisbon treaties in Ireland (2001-2002 and 2008-2009),[29] as well as the 2012 Fiscal Treaty, contributing opinion pieces,[30] journal articles and think tank policy papers to these discussions.[citation needed]

Affiliations

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O'Brennan is a member and participant in events hosted by the University Association for Contemporary European Studies (UACES), the European Union Studies Association (EUSA), and the American Conference for Irish Studies (ACIS).[citation needed] He is vice-president of the Irish Association for Contemporary European Studies (IACES),[31] and was formerly secretary and a board member of the Political Studies Association of Ireland (PSAI).[citation needed]

On several occasions, O'Brennan has been a witness before parliamentary committees on issues connected to Brexit, European integration and international relations.[32][33][34] On 7 December 2022 he testified before the Oireachtas European Affairs Committee on how to help with recruitment of Irish people to the EU institutions and better communicate what the European Union does in Ireland.[35] He has also been a witness before the UK House of Lords Committees.[36]

He is also a past chairman of the "Political Science" section of the Global Undergraduate Awards.[citation needed]

Scholarly work

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Some of O'Brennan's scholarly works engage with EU Enlargement policy. He is the author of The Eastern Enlargement of the European Union (Routledge, 2006, 2009)[37] and National Parliaments within the Enlarged European Union: from 'victims' of integration to competitive actors? (Routledge, with Tapio Raunio, 2007).[38]

Other published works by O'Brennan focus on Ireland's relationship with the EU. O'Brennan has published numerous journal articles on this theme and is the editor of two special issues of Irish Political Studies (with Mary C. Murphy, UCC)[39] and Administration on Ireland and European integration. An earlier essay focused on Ireland’s struggle to be accepted as a member of the EU in the 1960s and early 1970s.[40] Murphy and O'Brennan frequently collaborate on opinion pieces about Ireland and the EU. In advance of the 2016 Brexit referendum in the United Kingdom they argued that the UK could learn a lot from the Irish experience of holding regular referendums on EU constitutional issues.[41] They contributed to an episode of Talking History on Newstalk FM in late 2022 which focused on Ireland’s five decades of membership of the EU.[42][43][44] O'Brennan has been a critic of how some in Ireland’s political class deal with European Union issues.[45]

O'Brennan is the co-author (with Dr. Barry Colfer, IIEA) of the Ireland report in the Bertelsman Stiftung's annual analysis of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)[46] and the 2021 report on Ireland’s management of the Covid-19 crisis.[47]

O'Brennan has spent several periods living and working in Bulgaria and has written a number of pieces of commentary on Bulgaria's political landscape and relationship with the EU.[48][49][50][51] He was a critic of the obstruction of free movement for Bulgarian and Romanian citizens within the EU.[52]

He has been a contributor to Carnegie Europe's "Judy Asks" series, which invites comment on contemporary issues.[53][54]

In 2022, he published a critique of Vladimir Putin in the Dublin Review of Books.[55]

References

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  1. ^ a b O'Brennan, John. "John O'Brennan | Maynooth University". www.maynoothuniversity.ie. Retrieved 16 February 2023. I am a Professor within the Department of Sociology. I also hold the Jean Monnet Chair in European Integration [..] Previously, I worked as a Lecturer in European Union Politics at the University of Limerick
  2. ^ "Bullying, Boris, and Brexit". Wright on the Nail podcast. 3 February 2023. Archived from the original on 26 March 2023. Retrieved 16 February 2023.
  3. ^ "Maynooth University academic awarded prestigious European Commission professorship | Maynooth University". www.maynoothuniversity.ie. Retrieved 16 February 2023.
  4. ^ "Centre for European and Eurasian Studies | Maynooth University". www.maynoothuniversity.ie. Retrieved 16 February 2023.
  5. ^ "MU academics receive Jean Monnet Awards from EU's Erasmus+ programme | Maynooth University". www.maynoothuniversity.ie. Retrieved 16 February 2023.
  6. ^ a b c "Dr. John O' Brennan". widereurope.ie. Archived from the original on 3 February 2011. Retrieved 16 February 2023.
  7. ^ "Brexit Stakeholder Forum - Iveagh House - 13 September 2017 - Minutes" (PDF).
  8. ^ "Fintan O'Toole on his new book, "Heroic Failure: Brexit and the Politics of Pain" | Maynooth University". www.maynoothuniversity.ie. Retrieved 16 February 2023.
  9. ^ "The Brexit Referendum: the existential choices facing the UK and its implications for Ireland and the EU | Maynooth University". www.maynoothuniversity.ie. Archived from the original on 16 February 2023. Retrieved 16 February 2023.
  10. ^ "Centre for European and Eurasian Studies hosts a panel discussion on Brexit and its implications for Ireland | Maynooth University". www.maynoothuniversity.ie. Retrieved 16 February 2023.
  11. ^ "Launch of "How Britain Ends"with Gavin Esler | Maynooth University". www.maynoothuniversity.ie. Retrieved 16 February 2023.
  12. ^ "Launch of "How Britain Ends"with Gavin Esler" – via www.youtube.com.
  13. ^ "Pol-Soc Podcast: Pol Soc Podcast EP 6 - Brexit for Beginners on Apple Podcasts". Apple Podcasts. Retrieved 16 February 2023.
  14. ^ "Professor John O' Brennan's recent lectures on EU politics in Central and Eastern Europe | Maynooth University". www.maynoothuniversity.ie. Retrieved 16 February 2023.
  15. ^ "Brexit and the Deterioration in UK - Irish Relations; A lecture by John O'Brennan (poster)" (PDF).
  16. ^ "Many thanks to our speakers and all who took the time to join our launch event and 1st workshop today! What a great discussion! To be continued tomorrow with @petit_christy @niallm0ran @PatrickBijsmans @conorgalvin @JohnOBrennan2 and many more". Twitter. Retrieved 16 February 2023.
  17. ^ "John O'Brennan interviewed on Romanian TV during recent visit to Bucharest | Maynooth University". www.maynoothuniversity.ie. Retrieved 16 February 2023.
  18. ^ a b "John O'Brennan recent keynote lectures on Ireland and Europe | Maynooth University". www.maynoothuniversity.ie. Retrieved 16 February 2023.
  19. ^ "Lecture: John O'Brennan". UGA Calendar of Events. Retrieved 16 February 2023.[permanent dead link]
  20. ^ Professor John O'Brennan and Pat Kelly - What Next for EU Enlargement?, retrieved 16 February 2023
  21. ^ O'Brennan, John. "IIEA Publication: EU enlargement to the Western Balkans: towards 2025 & beyond | IIEA". www.iiea.com. Retrieved 16 February 2023.
  22. ^ Pașaport diplomatic. John O'Brennan: Putem privi ultimii 30 de ani dintre UE și Rusia ca o tragedie, retrieved 16 February 2023
  23. ^ ""Ireland and the EU at 50" | Maynooth University". www.maynoothuniversity.ie. Retrieved 16 February 2023.
  24. ^ "List of Past Speakers (1981-2018)". MacGill Summer School. Retrieved 16 February 2023.
  25. ^ "BREXIT and its Implications for Cyprus" (PDF). cyprus.fes.de.
  26. ^ "President Trump In Doonbeg, Co. Clare". RTE Radio. 6 June 2019. Retrieved 16 February 2023.
  27. ^ "Miriam Lord: Self-confessed germaphobe Trump avoided the crowded bars". The Irish Times. Retrieved 16 February 2023.
  28. ^ "Professor John Brennan Spoke about the Trumps arrival in Doonbeg". Clare FM. 7 June 2019. Retrieved 16 February 2023.
  29. ^ O'Brennan, John (5 December 2008). "The Irish Think Again About the Lisbon Treaty". Project Syndicate. Retrieved 16 February 2023.
  30. ^ O'Brennan, John. "Treaty threatens to widen democratic deficit in EU". The Irish Times. Retrieved 16 February 2023.
  31. ^ "Committee". iaces.ie. Irish Association for Contemporary European Studies. Retrieved 24 March 2024. John O'Brennan holds the Jean Monnet Chair of European Integration and is Director of the Maynooth Centre for European and Eurasian Studies at Maynooth University, and Vice-President of the Irish Association for Contemporary European Studies (IACES)
  32. ^ "Ireland's future influence on European policymaking to be considered – 3 Feb 2014, 12:25 – Houses of the Oireachtas". www.oireachtas.ie. 3 February 2014. Retrieved 16 February 2023.
  33. ^ "Committees - EU Affairs Subcommittee report 10 May 2012" (PDF). webarchive.oireachtas.ie.[dead link]
  34. ^ "Committee hears experts on Fiscal Treaty". rte.ie. 4 April 2012. Retrieved 16 February 2023.
  35. ^ "Joint Committee on European Union Affairs debate - Wednesday, 7 Dec 2022". www.oireachtas.ie. 7 December 2022. Retrieved 16 February 2023.
  36. ^ "Select Committee on the European Union". data.parliament.uk. Retrieved 16 February 2023.
  37. ^ O'Brennan, John. "The Eastern Enlargement of the European Union". Routledge & CRC Press. Retrieved 16 February 2023.
  38. ^ O'Brennan, John. "National Parliaments within the Enlarged European Union: From 'Victims' of Integration to Competitive Actors?". Routledge & CRC Press. Retrieved 16 February 2023.
  39. ^ O'Brennan, John; Murphy, Mary C. (2 October 2019). "Ireland and crisis governance: continuity and change in the shadow of the financial crisis and Brexit" (PDF). Irish Political Studies. 34 (4): 471–489. doi:10.1080/07907184.2019.1687621. ISSN 0790-7184.
  40. ^ O'Brennan, John. "In From the Cold". DRB. Retrieved 16 February 2023.
  41. ^ O’Brennan, Mary C. Murphy and John (2 May 2016). "UK Remain campaign can learn from Ireland's EU referenda". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 16 February 2023.
  42. ^ "Ireland's 50-Year Membership of the EU". Newstalk. Retrieved 16 February 2023.
  43. ^ O'Brennan, John; Murphy, Mary C. (28 November 2013). "Fiscal and economic crisis a crisis of politics and engagement". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 16 February 2023.
  44. ^ O'Brennan, John; Murphy, Mary C. (30 December 2022). "Irish education system must take 'Europe' and languages seriously". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 16 February 2023.
  45. ^ O'Brennan, John (5 November 2019). "John O'Brennan: 'Kerry deputy's committee role proves we don't take European affairs half as seriously as we should'". independent. Retrieved 16 February 2023.
  46. ^ "2022 Ireland Country Report - SGI Sustainable Governance Indicators" (PDF).
  47. ^ "Ireland Report". www.bertelsmann-stiftung.de (in German). Retrieved 16 February 2023.
  48. ^ O'Brennan, John. "Desperate state of Bulgaria reflects poorly on EU principles". The Irish Times. Retrieved 16 February 2023.
  49. ^ O'Brennan, John. "Corruption still dominates political landscape as Bulgarians go to the polls". The Irish Times. Retrieved 16 February 2023.
  50. ^ O'Brennan, John (17 August 2022). "Extradition and Election Pose Test of Bulgaria's EU Commitment". Balkan Insight. Retrieved 16 February 2023.
  51. ^ O'Brennan, John (25 June 2013). "The spirit of protest in Brazil and Turkey has now swept into Bulgaria". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 16 February 2023.
  52. ^ O'Brennan, John (19 January 2013). "The success of the eastern EU enlargement debunks current fears". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 16 February 2023.
  53. ^ "Judy Asks: Is European Support for Ukraine Dependent on the United States".
  54. ^ "Judy Asks: Will Distrust Among EU Leaders Fail Ukraine?".
  55. ^ O'Brennan, John. "This Is Who He Is". DRB. Retrieved 16 February 2023.
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