warm-up 热身
In late 2010, Ireland asked for an international financial rescue. In December 2013, it became the first eurozone country to quit EU bailouts. The bailout was needed because when Ireland’s banks were about to collapse due to reckless lending, the Dublin government guaranteed not just all savings but also bonds sold by the banks. That – some say foolish – pledge buckled the economy.
Learning Objectives 学习目标
1. To know about the political systems, electoral system and political parties in Ireland;
2. To know about the transformation of Irish economy in the past decades;
3. To know the impact of Ireland’s EU membership on its economy and environment;
4. To know about the economic recession in Ireland in the wake of the Global Financial Crisis in 2008.
Focal Points 知识点
