The Evolution of our Struggle

I wrote an article a while back about the importance of the left partaking in elections by looking at international examples. But it’s important to put it into the republican context to understand Sinn Féin’s view on what we want to achieve. I see the dissident groups talking about armed struggle and refusing to recognise institutions as if somehow that’s what Republicanism is all about. Armed struggle is not some foundation of Republicanism, throughout the history of the struggle violence was always the last resort. 

In 1798, 1867 and 1916 there was no other path but armed struggle as there was a lack of other alternatives. In the 1930s the IRA tried agitation of workers and farmers around economic and social issues north and south of the border. In the 1960s Sinn Féin and the IRA once again got involved in agitation for civil rights in the 6 counties, social and economic issues in the 26 counties. This shows that republicans used non violent tactics to try and achieve their aims. In 1969 when repression and attacks from loyalists and the RUC began it was clear that peaceful agitation and reform was going to be impossible. This led to the armed struggle that lasted 30 years. 

Our current struggle 

The conditions that existed in 1969 have changed due to the efforts of the armed struggle. The undemocratic Orange state is gone, the loyalist mobs who burned down Bombay street are gone and the RUC are gone. The IRA and Sinn Féin knew that the struggle was only going to be a cycle of violence for the sake of violence after the British admitted they could not defeat the IRA, other factors were part of it too. 

Sinn Féin’s goal is a 32 county socialist republic, whether dissidents recognise it or not that’s what we stand for. We believe  we can create that peacefully by organising and using the ballot box. The GFA has made provision for a referendum on Irish unity, we are not going to sit here and say it will be easy to win it. But we must do all our efforts to ensure it happens. Then we need to go about building the new Ireland that we want to achieve. 

Methods  

Ballot Box

All over the world revolutionary movements have reevaluated their methods of struggle. There have been peace processes conducted by guerrilla movements in the Basque Country and Colombia. Both movements have moved towards going completely political in order to try and achieve the freedom of their nations. In Nicaragua, Venezuela, Bolivia and Ecuador anti imperialist leftists managed to take power via the ballot box. We know full well in Ireland after the 2020 election that this is an important tool for Irish Republicans. We are so close to achieving power in the south. Look at the reaction of the southern establishment to our success, they fear a Sinn Féin government because we will completely rearrange society based on republican principles. If you can take power via the institutions it means you can legislate the radical change that is needed in terms of housing, education, healthcare and developing economic democracy. 

If Sinn Féin takes power in the south it means we would be in a better position to push the British government to allow for a border poll. In the 6 counties powers are evidently limited due to control by Westminster rule but Sinn Féin have still managed to deliver on key issues. Until British colonialism is removed from the 6 counties Sinn Féin can only make small achievements. However the more MLAs, and Abstentionist MPs we get elected, it demonstrates the clear mandate for Irish reunification. 

Campaigns and protests 

The ballot box is not the only tactic we use nor should it be the only one used. We need to build a grassroots movement with other like minded activist groups around issues that we support. For example there were a march for Irish unity back in November that Sinn Féin, the IRSP and other non party republican activists had all joined together in. A continuation of a grassroots led movement will make Irish Unity a priority and it will allow activists to engage with the working class. Both the British and Free State establishments will be against the prospect of reunification of Ireland, they’ll use the media and the other platforms available to them. This is why, as activists, we need to be on the ground convincing people why Irish unity and a new republic is in everyone’s interest. 

Sinn Féin and our activists have been involved in other progressive grassroots led campaigns. We have been involved in the right2water, repeal, marriage equality and right to housing campaigns. We must be involved with other progressives around social and economic campaigns that put pressure on the establishment and also highlight to people what kind of changes we want to see in society. If privatisation and austerity are the agendas of any right wing establishment, we must oppose it by taking to the streets. 

Trade unionism 

As a left wing party we must be involved with trade unionism. As activists we must organise in our workplaces for better conditions and in the hope of building a better Ireland for workers. Neo liberalism has seen the erosion of workers rights and a decline in union membership, we must ensure we are involved with our unions and be ready to fight for our rights. Unions in the past have also been at the forefront to many of the campaigns mentioned and were probably one of the big organisers of the right2water campaign. Trade unions have also a huge role to play in an Irish unity campaign, a United Ireland is an issue for workers. If we want a socialist republic then we need to be fully behind the trade union movement. 

Community Involvement

Another comrade rightfully pointed out in his article that we need to be involved in our communities. That means we need to be involved with our local GAA, sports teams, tidy towns, language/cultural groups or other forms of community activism. Activists all over the 32 counties were involved in different activities to help get through the pandemic. This shows we are rooted in the communities. Councillors and MLA’s in the 6 counties are developing community wealth building schemes alongside activists. These schemes will see the development of cooperatives and local businesses to provide employment. This is a copy of the Preston model which activists in England decided to take back their community. 

Austerity will be imposed on all 32 counties after things get running, communities will be devastated with small businesses shutting. If people are left unemployed by closures we must organise and take back control. We will need to work with elected reps on trying to bring about legislation for developing cooperatives in the south as part of community wealth building. We must speak to those in our community and educate them on the issues they face. We must educate them on how they are alternative to right wing politics and also the merits of Irish Unity. We need to get more people to join in the campaigns by empowering them to take action against austerity. 

What we want to see

We want a 32 county socialist republic based on the proclamation and democratic programme. If we combine all the tactics above we can achieve our goals. We need our activists involved in all corners of society in order to empower the people. So we want to end British colonialism in Ireland which evidently means reunification of our nation. Ending colonialism means ending the division between our people whether that be sectarianism or racism. It means we need to develop and build the Irish language and culture. 

Economically we want to develop an economy that sees the ownership of Ireland by the people of Ireland. That means publicly funded services that work for the people, it means free education, free healthcare and public transport. We need to have public ownership of water, electricity, broadband and other industries. We must stop privatisation of services and stop the exploitation of our environment. A radical shift to democratic/worker ownership is firmly part of our republican politics and part of Sinn Féin’s policies. 

People need to be empowered via a new participatory democracy. We have a policy on developing district and community councils alongside giving more power to county councils. County councils should control local public services such as bin services and public transportation. The running of district and community councils would see power given to the people to decide what happens in their areas. Community councils would likely help in developing cooperatives and services relevant to the people's needs. Reform also needs to happen at higher levels such as a recall of TD’s who break the people's trust or reform of the Seanad to a people’s assembly rather than the undemocratic institution it is. This will give an opportunity to empower all sections of society including women, LGBT, travellers and ethnic minorities. 

Conclusion 

Just because our tactics have changed from armed struggle to elections and organising doesn’t mean we are any less committed to our said goals. I’ve came across so many dissidents who genuinely are more concerned about rhetoric and armed struggle, but rhetoric will not deliver the republic. Those who fought in the armed struggle realised that methods change depending on the circumstances. I think the last 20 years have shown that our methods are working and we are close to achieving both Irish Unity and radical social change. Dissidents and the micro-left can rant all they want about us but we are confident that our methods to conclude our freedom struggle will not fail. Below I will leave you with two quotes from Óglach Brian Keenan who was credited as being the IRA’s chief strategist, he said the following in support of Sinn Féin’s peace strategy. 

“We need to constantly remind people we are for ‘equality, liberty, fraternity’. We are against exploitation and inequality. Those who continue to use armed struggle need to hear that message. They also need to be faced with the consequences of their campaign. There is no revolutionary logic to their activities.”

“Revolution is not about guns, it is about intent”- Óglach Brian Keenan

le Adrian Gallagher