Date: Wed, 15 Apr 1998 08:25:49 +0100 From: Jim <jim-AT-cag1.demon.co.uk> Subject: M-G: Mala Poist is the letters column Chris Mala Poist is the letters column, Chris. Hence the symbol of a letter. The content of a letter appearing on the letters page has no bearing on what Sinn Fein's views are. Jim Hillier In message <3.0.2.32.19980415072758.00b2eb3c-AT-pop.gn.apc.org>, Chris Burford <cburford-AT-gn.apc.org> writes >Further to posts about the changes in capitalism and their effect on the >Irish national struggle, I am forwarding this remarkable article from the >issue of >An Phoblacht Republican News Thurs 9th April on the eve of the talks >announcement. > >Immediately beneath the Editorial: "Unionists must embrace change" > >comes what appears to be a contributed article if I understand "Mala Poist" >correctly. > >Nevertheless the juxtaposition and the title, "The limits of nationalism", >could not be more suggestive about how the editors wished the readership to >be evaluating the deal soon to be struck. > > >One other clue that this may not be accidental [material in this letter >accessed via the net starting from http://sinnfein.ie/] - > >in Adams address to talks press conference 10th April 98, >Gerry Adams thanks the talks negotiators and those who helped, and goes on >to emphasise the Republican, not necessarily the nationalist perspective, >and with the tactful phrase "Republicans and nationalists will come to the >document with scepticism but also with hope" opens the possibility that >republicans and nationalists may not be one and the same species, although >they may at present be on the "same bus to Cork". I submit this form of >words is not at all accidental. > >The contributed article copied below is obviously not a definitive >Republican position on the limits of nationalism but is regarded as a >valuable contribution to a debate within Sinn Fein that the leadership >wants widened. I submit the article "The limits of nationalism" is >compatible with a marxist analysis of the successes and limitations of >Irish nationalism, and why the way ahead for them in their opinion may not >be a purely nationalist one, if they want a united Ireland, democratic and >socialist. > >It is of course their decision. > >Chris Burford >London. > >_________________________ > > >Adams 10th April: > >>> > Sinn Fein has a vision of the future. Of an Ireland free from division > and conflict. And where all our people can live together in peace. > This can be achieved in our lifetime. It is this republican vision > which has guided us throughout the years and in particular through > the peace process. Indeed this weekend republicans will > commemorate the 82nd anniversary of the 1916 Rising, an event > that inspired and continues to inspire myself and other republicans. > > While the document produced this morning contains elements which > are positive, there are others yet to be resolved. So much more has > to be done. > > I have always made it clear that our negotiating team will go back to > the Ard Chomhairle (National Executive) of Sinn Fein. We will > assess the document in the context of our peace strategy: Does it > remove the causes of conflict? Can it be developed and is it > transitional? As in the past we will approach this development in a > positive manner. > > But for now it is time to draw breath. It is time to reflect. > Republicans and nationalists will come to the document with > scepticism but also with hope. Is it a new beginning? > > Sinn Fein will ask all those questions also. When we have > democratically come to a conclusion we will let you know. ><< > > > >An Phoblacht Republican News Thurs 9th April > > >Mala Poist > >The limits of nationalism > > >>>> > > >A chairde, > >Whether or not there is an agreement on 9 April, Gerry Adams's minimum >requirements will not be met. The peace process cannot deliver these >requirements and the purpose of the peace strategy remains obscure. Sinn >Fein now risks being co-opted into whatever partitionist arrangements >emerge. The need to reassert republican politics, modernise republican >analysis and language, and develop a republican strategy, is urgent. > >The peace strategy seeks an alliance with nationalism. The nationalist >parties accept consent/unionist veto and therefore, continued British rule >in Ireland. Notwithstanding the proclaimed ``nationalist unity'', >nationalism intends to write this consent/unionist veto into their >constitution. Ed's Desk (19 March) claims that ``the 1798 rebellion was >precisely militant Irish nationalism''. This travesty of the radical >republicanism of the United Irish societies confirms that the gravity of >this unity is not towards republicanism. > >We need to understand the limits of nationalism, the opposing political >programs of nationalism and republicanism, and the significance of >socialism in republican objectives. > >Nation and nationality are real, material things. They are forms of >identity and community that arise from historical, geographical, social, >economic and other factors. To be against nation or nationality is absurd. > >Nationalism is a political ideology which makes nation and nationality the >principles of political organisation. It ignores other categories such as >gender, ethnicity, sexuality and most importantly, class. But these >categories already exist withen the nation and nationalism can only create >a state reflecting the dominant forces in each category. The patriarchal, >racist, capitalist 26 county state is illustrative. Republicanism is based >on citizenship, not nationality. Republican citizenship leads to rights and >obligations, and promotes the principles of liberty, equality and fraternity. > >Democracy, government by the people, is participative, not representative, >plural, not majoritarian, diverse, not homogenuous. Nationalism, because it >subsumes all other categories into the nation, will be majoritarian, >uniform and exclusive. It is hostile to the democratic and inclusive >objectives of republicanism. > >The objective of the republican movement is a socialist republic. Socialism >is based on common ownership of resources, production and distribution. It >is profoundly democratic. Republicans cannot achieve equal citizenship or >democracy under capitalism, where class, profit and exploitation prevail. > >Partition was enforced by Irish nationalism and British imperialism. It >works in the interests of Irish and foreign capitalism. Republicanism and >socialism provide the means to oppose partition and the alliance of >nationalism, capitalism and imperialism that it serves. > >Since 1798 republicanism has found itself unable to wrest leadership of the >movement for national democracy away from nationalism. The result has been >betrayal, defeat and repetition. > >The peace strategy tries to go back in time, to recreate the pre-1921 >alliance between republicanism and nationalism. That alliance failed and >that time is gone. Nationalism will always betray republicanism and >socialism. Until we place a radical republicanism at the core of our >politics and strategy we condemn ourselves to failure. > >No Other Law >Dublin > ><<< > > > > --- from list marxism-general-AT-lists.village.virginia.edu --- -- Jim --- from list marxism-general-AT-lists.village.virginia.edu ---
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