File spoon-archives/marxism-international.archive/marxism-international_1997/marxism-international.9707, message 185


Date: Tue, 08 Jul 1997 13:49:02 +1000 (EST)
From: Gary MacLennan <g.maclennan-AT-qut.edu.au>
Subject: M-I: The situation in Ireland


Comrades

There has been fairly desultory discussion on Ireland on this list for some
time and part of the problem is my own inability to get time to post more
thoughtfully, but I have been moved to write something about the current
situation.

The essence of the debate about Ireland on the Left is whether Irish
nationalism is progressive.  Some Leftists will have it that no nationalism
is progressive;  that no Gay movement is progressive; that no feminist led
movement is progressive. The argument is that these movement divide the
working class.   I disagree totally with all such crude fundamentalism.

There is also a side argument and that concerns the status of the
Protestant Nation.  There is an argument associated with Maoists and
Hobsbawm that Irish nationalism threatens the civil and religious liberties
of Irish Protestants and so must be opposed.

Terry Eagleton described this as Orange Marxism and labeled it
"degenerate".  I could not agree more but the point needs to be dealt with
in much greater depth.

What can be commented on though at a reasonably non-complex level is the
present situation.  This is generally known as the "marching season" in
Northern Ireland.  Loyalists/Orange men/Protestants turn out in their
thousands to celebrate the victory of King William over King James in 1690
at the Boyne.

Most outside observers tend to smile or even sneer when the matter is put
this way.  "How quaint!", "How Irish!" they exclaim and so once more we
"the indomitable Irishry" are regarded as clowns and fools.  The English
wring their hand and appeal for world sympathy.  The White man's burden
would seem to lie heavily on the poor English who have to deal with the
ungrateful Irish.

However to describe this as the "marching season" ignores that for the
history of the Northern Irish State only one community - the dominant
loyalist one - was permitted to march.  Nationalist parades and displays of
republicanism were routinely banned between 1922-72.

So the loyalist marching season is essentially linked to triumphalism, to a
reaffirmation of their victory over nationalists.  

Speaking from a republican perspective such parades are the equivalent of
the Nazi rallies.  Orangemen may march behind banners which proclaim "Civil
and Religious Liberty For All", but the true meaning of their actions is to
assert their dominance and control over the Northern Irish State.

Now into this scenario has come the Blair government.  Dr. Mo Mowlam
arrives in Britain's last major colony. (BTW Chris you were quite wrong to
describe Hong Kong as this)  She hugs people, she presses the flesh.  She
appears to be someone half human - a total relief after the Tory ninnies
who have held the position of Northern Irish Secretary. 

But then she confronts the reality of Northern Ireland.  Does she stand up
to the Loyalists and tell them they cannot walk over the Catholic
community?  Does she tell them that Norther Ireland can only be united if
the Orange tradition abandons it triumphalistic pro-imperialism?  Of course
not.  It is explained to the good doctor that realpolitik demands that
Britain support the loyalist veto; that it is fine to talk about civil
liberties etc but that the fundamental equation of Northern Ireland must be
respected.  The basic formula is of course Orange domination backed up with
British money and armed might.

That is the meaning of Gervaghy.  Once more British Labor has refused to
turn its back on the Imperialistic traditions of the British people.

Now what about the rhetoric of that piece of smarm -Tony Blair?  He has
talked of the peace train and how it is going to leave the station and not
wait for Sinn Fein.  Two nights ago on Gervaghy Road his army battered
unarmed protestors.  So much for the peace train.  One young Irishman had
it dead right when he scrawled on the burnout shell of the real train that
the IRA hijacked, the following slogan - NO JUSTICE -NO PEACE TRAIN.

What of Adams in all this?  He of course is desperately anxious to get
control of the present situation.  The young men are chanting "No Cease
fire- No cease fire.!"  Adams' control over the IRA must be also slipping.
He consistently suffers from the delusion that the Northern State can be
negotiated away.  I say that with no disrespect for the man who is a
brilliant politician and who has been tortured and imprisoned by the British.

But if there is a way forward in Ireland it once more lies with the
radicalizing youth.  Adams' generation heroic though it has been is keen to
come in from the cold.  There is more than a touch of the Laurent Kabila's
about Adams.  But once more like many moderates he rides the tiger's back.
We will see if he can get control of the Irish youth and hand the streets
back to the British.

regards

Gary



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