Food for thought
Irish Republicanism - Good Friday and After by Daltún Ó
Ceallaigh.
Published by Léirmheas. Price £6.
Since the early 1990s Daltún Ó Ceallaigh has published a number
of books of political analysis, which mainly focus on the
national question in Ireland and which seek to chart a way
forward for nationalists and republicans. All have been coherent,
significant and constructive contributions to progressive
politics.
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As the author points out, the Agreement is full of
potential but will only have value if that potential is
fulfilled. And we have a very long way to go
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In this book Ó Ceallaigh attempts what he describes as ``an
assessment of the contemporary meaning and future potential of
Irish republicanism''. The attempt is successful and the result is
thought provoking. He begins with a concise analysis of the
background to the peace process and its roots in the failure of
the British to defeat resurgent republicanism. This strikes a
positive note for what follows.
Ó Ceallaigh gives a detailed analysis of the constitutional
aspects of the Good Friday Agreement. This is a particularly
useful section of the book and deals effectively with critics of
the republican approach from several angles. The author is
generally positive about what was achieved in the Agreement while
recognising its many shortcomings.
On the key constitutional question of partition, British
sovereignty and the unionist veto, there is clearly no real
agreement - Good Friday represented an agreement to disagree. But
the further erosion of the British government's constitutional
commitment to the unionists represents a step forward. The
equality agenda undermines the sectarian basis of the Six-County
state. As the author points out, the Agreement is full of
potential but will only have value if that potential is
fulfilled. And we have a very long way to go.
Republicanism and the Left, a theme he covered in previous books,
is revisited in a succinct and interesting chapter. There is
still a need to refute the spurious arguments of those in the
Labour Party and elsewhere who refuse to follow the true
tradition of James Connolly and who try to portray Irish
nationalism as reactionary. Ó Ceallaigh points out correctly that
``the real antithesis of internationalism'' is not nationalism but
imperialism to which nationalism, as the expression of the
freedom of nations, is hostile.
There is a great need for analysis and debate on the changing
nature of social classes in Ireland. This has obvious
implications for politics and involves such questions as what is
the working class now, who represents them, and how can people be
radicalised in this new climate. Ó Ceallaigh's chapter on these
subjects is a good beginning to a debate we need to have.
Two chapters focus on international affairs - one on our place in
the world generally and the other on the origins and development
of Irish neutrality. The latter is very useful and shows the real
historic basis of neutrality which anti-national and pro-NATO
elements so often try to portray as a non-policy. The chapter on
the international context is perhaps less focused. It does not
really tackle the vital issue of the globalisation of capital and
the huge implications of this for the nation-state and for
socialists.
Global capital, the increasingly individualised nature of
capitalist society and the destruction of the environment are
factors which republicans must take into account in a more
serious way than before. It is too much to expect the author to
cover such a wide range but a start has been made and perhaps
these themes might form the basis of a future work.
Many who read this book will focus on the author's view of what
Sinn Fein should do about the `Coalition option'. ``If concessions
on the right policies can be secured and implemented, and it is
perceived that Sinn Féin is responsible for them, then there is
no reason why coalition should not be entered into and why it
should not benefit the party'' he argues. Food for thought and
further debate.
We need more publications like this and more debate among
republicans on `the big issues'. The development of the peace
process necessitated much political debate among republicans but
this has waned. There is a real danger now that we could slip
into pure electoralism. Sinn Féin is a party of ideas and action.
If the two are not in tandem then we are on the road to nowhere.
By Mícheál MacDonncha.
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