Smashing Stormont?

national | rights, freedoms and repression | opinion/analysis Tuesday September 07, 2010 10:07 by Ardoyne Republican - Republican Network for Unity (RNU)

In recent weeks, there have been a host of news reports, columns and internet blogs seeking answers to the growth of dissenting Republicanism. Much of which has focused on the morality surrounding armed actions.However, what many have failed to grasp has been the shift in ideological terms between mainstream and dissenting republicans. A much better description would be contemporary and socialist republicans.

In recent weeks, there have been a host of news reports, columns and internet blogs seeking answers to the growth of dissenting Republicanism. Much of which has focused on the morality surrounding armed actions.However, what many have failed to grasp has been the shift in ideological terms between mainstream and dissenting republicans. A much better description would be contemporary and socialist republicans.

Throughout the past two centuries, the Republican Movement has been defined by its Nationalist and Socialist political ideology. While the military and political sides often worked in tandem with one another to secure a British withdrawal from Ireland. At various stages in its history, the Movement spilt into separate camps due to the pertinent social and political conditions at the time.

Consequently, it should be of little surprise that crucial changes to Sinn Féin policies enabled the Party to become the largest Nationalist Party in the North. Some of which included the primacy of nationalism, accepting the Unionist Veto and support for British policing. Many socialist members including myself, felt were a step too far.

Today, Sinn Féin is an integral part of a Stormont Coalition who practices a conservative economic policy with privatisation, water charges and public sector cutbacks high on its agenda. The sight of Martin McGuinness, a declared socialist in Wall Street gleefully banging a hammer brought little relief to disadvantaged communities across Ireland.

The Good Friday Agreement has not delivered social and economic freedom. Nor has it ended the British occupation or eradicated sectarianism. It has actually institutionalised it with Nationalist and Unionist communities vying for better resources. The ‘peace dividend’ has not yet arrived in working-class areas like Ardoyne and the Creggan.

There is a growing need for socialist republicans to learn from British sponsored agreements, strengthen existing partnerships and unify once more. Only then can we effectively challenge contemporary Republicans. Political opposition to Sinn Féin is quite legitimate, as is the pursuit of a 32 County Socialist Irish Republic. Progressive republicans do not need lectures about Irish history from Politicians who should know better and a compliant Media.