File spoon-archives/marxism-international.archive/marxism-international_1998/marxism-international.9803, message 158


From: jbm7-AT-tutor.open.ac.uk (Jim Monaghan)
Date: Fri, 13 Mar 1998 13:10:20 -0000
Subject: M-I: Ireland


I sometimes polemicise against the militarist supporters of the INLA on
another discussion group. Their problem is that they learned the wrong
lesson from the growth and current hegemony of Sinn Fein. 
Heartfield exaggerates the changes brought about by the British in the
North, sure there have been changes. The RUC is less blatant a
sectarian force. Some moves not just cosmetic have been made to combat
discrimination.But the essence of Orangism is sectarian and
discriminatory and even if there was no national struggle it would
remain.While the struggle for unity and independence is still the main
line of attack on Imperialism there are also parallels with the civil
rights struggle in America. There as in the North it is OK to call  the
British to account on issues such as the parades. It is nonsense to say
the parades commission has republican approval or even SDLP approval.
Saying the residents campaign is sectarian because it does not directly
attack the British is equivalent to saying the civil rights movement by
opposing the KKK and not the federal government was racist.  The
Residents ass. did more to expose the nature of Orangism than 25 years
of military activity.
I am sure the British and the Irish Gov. would love to reform the
orange state. But having ruled Ireland in a certain way it is not that
easy to build a new edifice .There is a certain autonomy to the
loyalist groups and the RUC etc.
The RMG, the FI section, merged with PD and Farrell on the basis of
Mass Action Versus Militarism when PD broke with the ultralefts of the
Red Republican party.
My own analysis is to a large degree based on that of Gerry Foley of
Socialist Action formerly of the old SWP of the USA.
The challenge for socialists is to build an opposition North and South
to tje current Imperialist consensus.The problems of Ireland have not
gone away. Hopefully Sinn Fein will not be sucked into the popular
front trap making the task all the harder. The Continuity militarists
offer nothing. If the Sands group avoid militarism there may be some
possibilities with them .
Myown opinion living in Dublin is that that nationalism and
consequently sympathy for tyhe northern minority has strenghtened. The
small but significant gains by Sinn Fein was not due solely to anti
drugs campaigning
Jim Monaghan


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