Michael Collins and the Financing of Violent Political Struggle
ISBN: 9781315444925
Platform/Publisher: Taylor & Francis / Routledge
Digital rights: Users: Unlimited; Printing: Unlimited; Download: Unlimited



Michael Collins was a pivotal figure in the Irish struggle for independence and his legacy has resonated ever since. Whilst Collins' role as a guerrilla leader and intelligence operative is well documented, his actions as the clandestine Irish government Minister of Finance have been less studied. The book analyses how funds were raised and transferred in order that the IRA could initiate and sustain the military struggle, and lay the financial foundations of an Irish state.

Nicholas Ridley examines the legacy of these actions by comparing Collins' modus operandi for raising and transferring clandestine funds to those of more modern groups engaged in political violence, as well as the laying of foundations for Irish financial and fiscal regulation.


Nicholas Ridley is Senior Lecturer in Policing and Security at London Metropolitan University. He has previously worked as an Intelligence Analyst at New Scotland Yard, Criminal Intelligence Department and Anti-Terrorist Unit and at Europol.He has been a trainer in intelligence and anti-terrorism for police forces in Africa, and has lectured on combating terrorist financing on courses at NATO Centre of Excellence - Defence against Terrorism.

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