Research Profile

Biography

Dr. O'Mahony received his doctorate from the National University of Ireland in 1991 and spent the next seven years as Director of the Centre for European Social Research, before taking up a position as lecturer in Sociology at UCC in 2000. He is currently Senior Lecturer in Sociology.

His theoretical interests are currently focused on questions of public participation and the public sphere, from both a normative and empirical-theoretical standpoint. He also writes on nationalism, transnationalism, and cosmopolitanism. 

He has wide-ranging methodological expertise in a variety of research approaches and techniques and is presently working on utilizing the discourse analytic tradition within a macro-sociological framework

He has conducted and coordinated a wide range of research, amounting to more than 15 funded projects, primarily focused on questions of environment, on the societal implications of new technology, and on identity and ideology in Ireland and internationally.

He completed a major book on the Contemporary Theory of the Public Sphere in 2013 and is currently working on several other book projects on cosmopolitanism and on the public discourse of GM crops. 

 

Research Interests

My research interests are currently primarily centered on the public sphere, which is approached from both a normative and empirical theoretical standpoint. As part of this project, I have developed a macro-sociological framework designed to advance the analysis of the relationship between communication and cultural change.

A second significant theoretical interest lies in questions of cosmopolitanism and territory and includes studies of nationalism (which has issued in two books) and cosmopolitanism (various papers and co-editing a book series).

I have also a significant interest in advanced methodological approaches, particularly at present in the field of communication and cultural change. I am presently working on a book that will analyse public discourse and cultural change related to GM crops by means of an innovative kind of discourse analysis that I have been developing over a period of time. It will be theoretically anchored and multi-methodological. This work builds on previous work of this kind, including several major international research projects and a landmark publication in Social Studies of Science in 2005, analysing discourse on the human genome (with Mike Steffen Schaefer).

I am currently working on two books. The volume alluded to above on the discourse of GM crops and a book on Cosmopolitanism and Territory.

Other significant research interests including critical theory from the 1st to the contemporary 4th generation; classical and contemporary sociology of law; political sociology; sociology of the new social movements; philosophy of social science; general social theory; and political philosophy.










Publications

Books

 YearPublication
(2013)The Contemporary Theory of the Public Sphere.
O'Mahony, P. (2013) The Contemporary Theory of the Public Sphere. Oxford: Peter Lang. [Details]
(2011)Irish Enviornmental Politics after the Communicative Turn.
O'Mahony, P. & Keohane, K. (eds); (2011) Irish Enviornmental Politics after the Communicative Turn. Manchester: Manchester University Press. [Details]
(2002)Nationalism and Social Theory: Modernity and the Recalcitrance of the Nation.
Delanty, G and O'Mahony, P.; (2002) Nationalism and Social Theory: Modernity and the Recalcitrance of the Nation. London: Sage. [Details]
(2001)Rethinking Irish History: Nationalism, Identity and Ideology (2nd Ed).
O'Mahony, P. and Delanty; (2001) Rethinking Irish History: Nationalism, Identity and Ideology (2nd Ed). London: Macmillan - Revised Paperback Edition. [Details]
(1999)Nature, Risk and Responsibility: Discourses of Biotechnology.
O'Mahony, P. (ed (1999) Nature, Risk and Responsibility: Discourses of Biotechnology. London: Macmillan. [Details]
(1998)Rethinking Irish History: Nationalism, Identity and Ideology.
O'Mahony, P. and Delanty, G; (1998) Rethinking Irish History: Nationalism, Identity and Ideology. London: Macmillan - Hardback Edition. [Details]

Book Chapters

 YearPublication
(2011)'Social Positions and Dynamics within the Cognitive Order of Irish Environmental Discourse¿'
O'Mahony, P. ; (2011) 'Social Positions and Dynamics within the Cognitive Order of Irish Environmental Discourse¿' In: Irish Environmental Politics after the Communicative Turn. Manchester: Manchester University Press. [Details]
(2011)'Irish Environmental Discourse: Towards an Ecological Morality?'
O'Mahony, P. ; (2011) 'Irish Environmental Discourse: Towards an Ecological Morality?' In: Irish Environmental Politics after the Communicative Turn, Manchester: Manchester University Press. Manchester: Manchester University Press. [Details]
(2010)'Discourse, Participation and Sociological Theory'
O'Mahony, P; (2010) 'Discourse, Participation and Sociological Theory' In: Bora, Alfons and Hausendorf, Heiko (eds). Democratic Transgressions of Law: Governing Technology through Public Participation. Leiden: Brill. [Details]
(2010)'The Reconstruction of Sociological Learning Theory: Cognitive Sociology, Normativity and Discursivity'
O'Mahony, P; (2010) 'The Reconstruction of Sociological Learning Theory: Cognitive Sociology, Normativity and Discursivity' In: O'Tuama, Seamus (eds). Critical Turns in Critical Theory: Festschrift for Piet Strydom. London: Taurus. [Details]
(2008)'The Reconstruction of Sociological Learning Theory: Cognitive Sociology, Normativity and Discursivity'
O’Mahony, P.; (2008) 'The Reconstruction of Sociological Learning Theory: Cognitive Sociology, Normativity and Discursivity' In: Festschrift for Piet Strydom (Publication contract in place). [Details]
(2007)'Cyberspace and Public Culture'
O’Mahony, P.; (2007) 'Cyberspace and Public Culture' In: The Mediation of Cultural Spaces. [Details]
(2007)'Discorse, Participation and Sociological Theory Building'
O/Mahony, P.; (2007) 'Discorse, Participation and Sociological Theory Building' In: Participation and Beyond: Decision-making in Technoscientific Conflicts. [Details]
(2006)'‘Procedure and participation: A social theoretical assessment of GM licensing procedures in Ireland and the UK’'
O'Mahony, P. and O'Sullivan, S. (2006) '‘Procedure and participation: A social theoretical assessment of GM licensing procedures in Ireland and the UK’' In: Bora, A. & Hausendorf, H (eds). Analysing Citizenship Talk; Social positioning in political and legal decision-making processes. Amsterdam: John Benjamins. [Details]
(2005)'Nationalism'
O'Mahony, P.; (2005) 'Nationalism' In: Routledge Encyclopaedia of Social Theory. [Details]
(2005)'Procedure and Participation: The Genetically Modified Plants Controversy in the UK and Ireland'
O'Mahony, P. & O'Sullivan, S.; (2005) 'Procedure and Participation: The Genetically Modified Plants Controversy in the UK and Ireland' In: Communicating Citizenship and Social Positioning in Decision-Making Procedures: The Case of Modern Biotechnology. Part of the Series, Discourse Approaches to Politics, Society and Culture. Edited by Ruth Wodak and Paul Chilton. [Details]
(2002)'Citizenship, Digitization and Citizen Services in Ireland'
O'Mahony, P.; (2002) 'Citizenship, Digitization and Citizen Services in Ireland' In: Changing Aspects: ICT supported development in rural areas. [Details]
(1999)''Constructing difference:Discourse coalitions on biotechnology in the press''
Skillington, T. (with O'Mahony, P.) (1999) ''Constructing difference:Discourse coalitions on biotechnology in the press'' In: Nature, Risk and Responsibility. Basingstoke: Macmillan Palgrave. [Details]
(1999)'Discourse Coalitions on Biotechnology in the Press'
O'Mahony, P. and Skillington, T. (1999) 'Discourse Coalitions on Biotechnology in the Press' In: Nature, Risk and Responsibility: Discourses of Biotechnology. Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan. [Details]
(1992)'Sociological Questions in Open Learning Standards and the Learner Environment [B1281]'
Strydom, Barend P.; O'Mahony, Pat; (1992) 'Sociological Questions in Open Learning Standards and the Learner Environment [B1281]' In: Learning Technology in the European Communities. [Details]

Peer Reviewed Journals

 YearPublication
(2014)'Europe, crisis, and critique: Social theory and transnational society'
O'Mahony, P (2014) 'Europe, crisis, and critique: Social theory and transnational society'. Journal of European Journal of Social Theory, 17 :238-257 [DOI] [Details]
(2012)'Cosmopolitanism and the Construction of Cultural Models in Contemporary Europe'
O'Mahony, P. (2012) 'Cosmopolitanism and the Construction of Cultural Models in Contemporary Europe'. Irish Journal of Sociology, 20 (2):111-131 [Details]
(2011)'Social Theory and the Critique of Capitalism in a Communication Society in Irish Journal of Sociology'
O'Mahony, P. ; (2011) 'Social Theory and the Critique of Capitalism in a Communication Society in Irish Journal of Sociology'. [Details]
(2010)'Habermas and Communicative Power in Journal of Political Power'
O'Mahony, P; (2010) 'Habermas and Communicative Power in Journal of Political Power'. 3 (1):53-73 [Details]
(2009)'Sociological Theory, Discourse and the Cognitive Construction of Participation in Comparative Sociology'
O'Mahony, P. ; (2009) 'Sociological Theory, Discourse and the Cognitive Construction of Participation in Comparative Sociology'. 8 (4):490-516 [Details]
(2005)'The Book of Life in the Press: Comparing German and Irish Media Discourse on Human Genome Research'
O'Mahony, P. and Schaefer, Mike Steffen; (2005) 'The Book of Life in the Press: Comparing German and Irish Media Discourse on Human Genome Research'. Social Studies Of Science, 35 (*):99-130 [Details]
(1998)'The Tension between Facts and Norms' in Social Epistemology'
O'Mahony, P.; (1998) 'The Tension between Facts and Norms' in Social Epistemology'. Social Epistemology, 12 (1):51-57 [Details]
(1998)'An Expenditure Estiamte of Irish National Income in 1907'
Bielenberg A. O'Mahony P.; (1998) 'An Expenditure Estiamte of Irish National Income in 1907'. Economic and Social Review, 29 (*):107-132 [Details]
(1996)'Sustainable Development as an Organising Principle for Discursive Democracy?'
O'Mahony, P. and Skillington, T.; (1996) 'Sustainable Development as an Organising Principle for Discursive Democracy?'. Sustainable Development, 4 (1):42-51 [Details]
(1995)'The Technicisation of Education in Europe and the DELTA programme'
O'Mahony, P. and Marsh, J.; (1995) 'The Technicisation of Education in Europe and the DELTA programme'. 7 (1):13-33 [Details]
(1991)''Science and Industry' in Education and Training Technology International'
O'Mahony, P.; (1991) ''Science and Industry' in Education and Training Technology International'. 28 (1):30-41 [Details]

Other Journals

 YearPublication
(2002)'Citizenship, Digitization and Citizen Services in Ireland''
O'Mahony, P.; (2002) 'Citizenship, Digitization and Citizen Services in Ireland'' in Changing Aspects: ICT supported development in rural areas' (Cork: South Western Regional Authority), * :*-*. [Details]
(1998)'Sustainable Development and Institutional Innovation''
O'Mahony, P.; (1998) 'Sustainable Development and Institutional Innovation'' in Research on the Socio-Economic Aspects of Environmental Change, pp. 435-440 (Brussels: CEC), * :*-*. [Details]
(1991)'Learning Theory and Learning Technology'
O'Mahony, P.; (1991) 'Learning Theory and Learning Technology' in Proceedings of the Ninth World Conference on Technology in Education Paris, pps. 3, * :*-*. [Details]

Conference Publications

 YearPublication
(1991)Proceedings of the Ninth World Conference on Technology in Education Paris
O'Mahony, P. ; (1991) Learning Theory and Learning Technology Proceedings of the Ninth World Conference on Technology in Education Paris [Details]
(1991)Ninth World Conference on Technology in Education
O’Mahony, P; (1991) Learning Theory and Learning Technology . In: * eds. Ninth World Conference on Technology in Education Paris, , 05-APR-91 - 30-DEC-99 , pp.3-* [Details]
(1990)Learning Technology in the European Communities: DELTA Conference on Research and Development
Strydom, P. and O'Mahony, P.; (1990) Sociological Questions in Open Learning Standards and the Learner Environment in Learning Technology in the European Communities . In: Cerri, Stefano A. and Whiting, John eds. Learning Technology in the European Communities: DELTA Conference on Research and Development The Hague, , 17-OCT-90 - 18-OCT-90 , pp.687-717 [Details]

Published Reports

 YearPublication
(2004)Participation and the Dynamics of Social Positioning: PARADYS. Final Report. HPSE-CT-2001-00050 (Irish Report).
O'Mahony, P., Skillington, T., O'Sullivan, S. (2004) Participation and the Dynamics of Social Positioning: PARADYS. Final Report. HPSE-CT-2001-00050 (Irish Report). DG Research, European Commission, Brussels. [Details]
(2004)Participation, Discourse and Social Positioning on Plant Biotechnology in Ireland: Final Report of the PARADYS Project.
O¿Mahony, P., Skillington, T. and O¿Sullivan, S. ; (2004) Participation, Discourse and Social Positioning on Plant Biotechnology in Ireland: Final Report of the PARADYS Project. European Union, Brussels. [Details]
(2004)Participation, Discourse and Social Positioning on Plant Biotechnology in the UK¿ in Final Report of the PARADYS Project to the European Commission.
O'Mahony, P. and Pardoe, S. ; (2004) Participation, Discourse and Social Positioning on Plant Biotechnology in the UK¿ in Final Report of the PARADYS Project to the European Commission. European Union, Brussels. [Details]
(1997)Evaluation of Technological Options to Relieve the Challenges caused by the Saturation of Cities: Sustainable Mobility and Deliberative Democracy.
O'Mahony, P. (ed) ; (1997) Evaluation of Technological Options to Relieve the Challenges caused by the Saturation of Cities: Sustainable Mobility and Deliberative Democracy. European Union, Brussels. [Details]
(1996)Sustainability and Institutional Innovation: Final Report of Comparative Research Project.
O'Mahony, P. ; (1996) Sustainability and Institutional Innovation: Final Report of Comparative Research Project. EUropean Union, Brussels. [Details]
(1993)Literature Review on Interdisciplinary Learning Theory.
O'Mahony, P. and Wall, J. ; (1993) Literature Review on Interdisciplinary Learning Theory. European Union, Brussels. [Details]

Other

 YearPublication
(1998)An expenditure estimate of Irish national income in 1907.
Bielenberg, A,O'Mahony, P (1998) An expenditure estimate of Irish national income in 1907. Other [Details]

Unpublished Reports

 YearPublication
(2006)Public Participation in the Environmental Field: submitted to EPA on completion of research project with the same name.
O'Mahony, P., Skillington, T. Murphy, M. and Burke, G.; (2006) Public Participation in the Environmental Field: submitted to EPA on completion of research project with the same name. Unpublished Reports [Details]
(2003)Linguistic analysis of Irish interviews on genetically modified plants.
O'Mahony, P.; (2003) Linguistic analysis of Irish interviews on genetically modified plants. Unpublished Reports [Details]

Professional Activities

Conference Contributions

 YearPublication
(2005)World Conference on Pragmatics,
O’Mahony, P.; (2005) Sociology, Linguistics and Social Positioning. [Invited Oral Presentation], World Conference on Pragmatics, Riva del Garda, Italy , 27-JUN-05 - 30-DEC-99. [Details]
(2004)EU workshop on the public sphere,
O'Mahony, P.; (2004) Theoretical Reflections on the European public sphere. [Invited Oral Presentation], EU workshop on the public sphere, Wissenschaftszentrum, Berlin. Germany , 01-MAY-04 - 30-DEC-99. [Details]
(2004)PRIME (Policies for Research and Innovation in the Move Towards the European Research Area) Invited Expert Workshop,
O'Mahony, P.; (2004) Review of Papers on Public Participation in the Biotechnological Field. [Oral Presentation], PRIME (Policies for Research and Innovation in the Move Towards the European Research Area) Invited Expert Workshop, Institute for Interdisciplinary Research, Bielefeld, Germany , 05-DEC-04 - 30-DEC-99. [Details]
(2003)Fifth deliverable of PARADYS project,
O' Mahony, P.; (2003) Linguistic analysis of Irish interviews on genetically modified plants. [Invited Oral Presentation], Fifth deliverable of PARADYS project, Institute for Interdisciplinary Research, Bielefeld, Germany , 25-JUN-03 - 30-DEC-99. [Details]
(2002)PARADYS: Public participation in licensing procedures for genetically modified plants,
O'Mahony, P.; (2002) Opening address: Public participation in licensing procedures for genetically modified plants. [Conference Organising Committee Chairperson], PARADYS: Public participation in licensing procedures for genetically modified plants, UCC , 29-JUN-02 - 30-DEC-99. [Details]
(2001)First Paradys Workshop,
O'Mahony, P.; (2001) Communicating Citizenship as an Empirical Phenomenon. [Invited Oral Presentation], First Paradys Workshop, Institute for Interdisciplinary Research, Bielefeld, Germany , 29-JUN-01 - 30-DEC-99. [Details]
(1999)Second Regional Conference on Social Movements and Change,
O'Mahony, P.; (1999) Contemporary Cultural Change and the Movement Paradigm. [Oral Presentation], Second Regional Conference on Social Movements and Change, Cork , 05-APR-99 - 30-DEC-99. [Details]
(1999)Conference on Memory and Identity,
O'Mahony, P.; (1999) Communications Media and the Public Sphere. [Oral Presentation], Conference on Memory and Identity, Cork , 01-APR-99 - 30-DEC-99. [Details]
(1998)Science and Technology against Drugs,
O'Mahony, P.; (1998) Social and Biographical factors in Ecstacy Use in Ireland’. [Invited Oral Presentation], Science and Technology against Drugs, Dublin , 10-OCT-98 - 30-DEC-99. [Details]
(1997)Seminar, European University Institute,
O'Mahony, P.; (1997) Nationalism and Ideology in Ireland. [Invited Oral Presentation], Seminar, European University Institute, Florence , 08-OCT-97 - 30-DEC-99. [Details]
(1997)ACT-Vill Technological Options to Relieve the Challenge of Sustainable Cities,
O'Mahony, P.; (1997) 'Comparative Analysis of Discourses of European Mobility. [Invited Oral Presentation], ACT-Vill Technological Options to Relieve the Challenge of Sustainable Cities, Brussels , 10-OCT-97 - 30-DEC-99. [Details]
(1995)Biotechnology Innovation, Societal Communication, Policy Response,
; (1995) . [Conference Organising Committee Member], Biotechnology Innovation, Societal Communication, Policy Response, Cork , 01-JAN-95 - 01-JAN-95. [Details]
(1995)Workshop on Biotechnological Innovation: Societal Responses, and Policy Implications,
O'Mahony, P.; (1995) Introduction: Biotechnological Innovation: Societal Responses, and Policy Implications. [Editorship of Whole Conference Proceedings], Workshop on Biotechnological Innovation: Societal Responses, and Policy Implications, University College Cork , 01-APR-95 - 30-DEC-99. [Details]

Committees

 CommitteeFunctionFrom / To
Executive Committee of School of Sociology and Philosopohy /
Arts Faculty Library Committee General member of committee; organized research on library services of Arts Faculty members; ordered additional needed books for the library; reviewed library finances for committee;2001 / 2004
Social Science Library Committee General member; budgetary review; submission of comments and review of plans for new library building; ordered an extensive corpus of key social scientific periodicals in HEA funding initiative;2004 / 2006

Employment

 EmployerPositionFrom / To
FreeText Technology Ltd, Campus Company UCC Founder-Director30-DEC-99 / 30-DEC-99
Sociology Dept, UCC Coordinator, European Research Unit,30-DEC-99 / 30-DEC-99
Centre for European Social Research, UCC Director30-DEC-99 / 30-DEC-99
History Dept, UCC Lecturer in European Studies30-DEC-99 / 30-DEC-99
Sociology Dept, UCC Lecturer in Sociology30-DEC-99 / 30-DEC-99

Education

 YearInstitutionQualificationSubject
1978UCC B.A.
1991UCC Ph.D.

Languages

 LanguageReadingWritingSpeaking
German Functional
French Functional

Consultancy

 ClientDescription
Department of Trade and Industry , UK

Journal Activities

 JournalRoleTo / From
Environmental Politics Referee-
European Journal Of Social Theory Editor-
European Journal Of Social Theory Referee-
Cultural Politics Referee-

Teaching Activities

Teaching Interests

Since my appointment just over a decade ago, I have taught at every possible level of the sociology programme.  At under-graduate level, I have taught:

 

-       Social theory at both Second and Third year levels (Compulsory)

-       First year to the Social Science, Arts and Night Degree Classes (Compulsory)

-       Second and Third Year Options Courses in Sociology of: science and technology, democratization,
         and upcoming courses in sociology of law and economic sociology


-       Methodology and Research Training

-       Research Project Seminars and Supervision

-       Contributions to other Programmes such as Public Health and Health Promotion

 

At post-graduate level, I have taught:

 

-       Social Theory (Compulsory)

-       Methodology (Compulsory)

-       Research methods
        Substantive Seminar on the Public Sphere

Furthermore, at post-graduate level I  pioneered the idea of a Summer School in Social Theory and Philosophy - since successfully realized - and was a co-writer of the successful bid to IRCHSS (PI: Dr. Alfred Moore) that underpinned the first year of the school. I have moderated, taught on and contributed to organizing that programme ever since, including developing and gaining CACSSS funding for the programme on the Public Academy that is part of the school. I have also contributed to curriculum design for the new joint Philosophy/Sociology programme. 

 

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