File spoon-archives/marxism-general.archive/marxism-general_1998/marxism-general.9804, message 62


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 ---

   

Driftline Main Page

 

Display software: ArchTracker © Malgosia Askanas, 2000-2005