This book investigates the vast body of academic and political literature produced regarding the Northern Ireland conflict to determine what research has effectively achieved. John Whyte, a respected scholar in the field, synthesizes hundreds of publications to provide a structured guide through the complex ideological landscape of the region. He evaluates the primary interpretations of the community divide, ranging from unionist and nationalist perspectives to Marxist frameworks, while assessing the viability of various proposed solutions.

Experts and historians frequently cite this work as a foundational text for understanding the historiography of the Northern Ireland conflict. Readers often note the clarity of the author's synthesis, which successfully organizes a dense and often contradictory body of academic research.