RECENT months have seen a grad. ual shift of emphasis in the politics of Sinn Fein (SF). Not long ago it seemed that the republican movement was hell-bent on pushing the military struggle to the fore and relegating the political struggle to the sidelines. But in the past year key events have forced the movement to re-evaluate priorities.
First was the disastrous SF result in the 26-county election last November (1.7 per cent of the popular vote). Second was the negative backwash from the Warrington bombing which killed two small children.
In the run-up to the North's local elections last May, the SP leadership decided that major changes would have to be made if the movement was to make an effective clectoral impact. SF pushed itself forward as a separate party with its own agenda, emphasising its role in the community, rather than just appearing a mouthpiece for the IRA.
SF pushed up its vote to 12.5 per cent, just over one-third of the nationalist community, making it the fourth-largest party in the Six Counties.
Harsh truths
Sinn Fein has been forced to accept some nais truts aoou inc pollical realities north and south of the border. In acknowledging the difficulties faced by the party in the Free State, SF first tried to blame its poor showing in last November's general election on modia censorship and police harassment of party activists.
SF's failure to relate to large sections of the Free State population was also an #portant ingrolent. Much of the population regarded SF's propaganda as irrelevant to their lives and gave their vote to the Labour Party which made the biggest electoral gains.
At the annual Wolfe Tone commemoration held on 20 June this year at Bodenstown. Sinn Fein executive member Martin McGuiness offered a sober assessment of the situation facing the party in the 26 counties:
"No one can deny that, with honourNationalist fury was derailed by Sinn Fein leaders able exceptions, we have generally failed to make a significant impact on the political map of the 26 counties...lt requires a national focus by us and a fundamental change of attitude if the imbalance is to be corrected."
He went said that not only should members be acare on the mational ques tion, but they 'should also be involved in every issue which affects our people...unemployment, low pay, poverty, womens rights and emigration."
It this represents a genuine change of emphasis by Sinn Fein then all socialists should welcome this.
If Martin McGuinness is to be believed however, Sinn Fein needs to do more than just propagandise about such istues in the columns of An Phoblact, but needs to get more involved in the various campaigns, particularly through the structures of the wider labour movement.
Untortunately on some issues St's involvement can only be limited, because of the mandates of its annual conference (Ard Fheis). A classic example is abortion rights.
At this year's Ard Fheis in Dundalk, several motions calling on the party to support full abortion rights for Irish women were defeated. Indeed the party's presiac Jerry Adams went so far as to say that any change in the party's present policy would be the "biggest mistake it could make'. SF continues to support abortions only in extreme cases such as incast and rape.
The question begging to be answered is why such a change in policy would be British occupation inflicts a heavy burden on Ireland a 'big mistake'? During the November 1992 clection campaign abortion was one of the key issues dividing southern Irish politics: SF could have done better, especially among young women. if it had taken a clear stand.
There are several reasons why SF backs off taking a radical stand on such issues. One is the fear that it may alienate its older and more traditional Catholic supporters, particularly in rural areas, and prevent disaffected Fianna Fail supporters switching allegiances. Another is the fear of the possible negative impact among the powerful Irish-American ing the republican movement. that the tread in Irish politics is towards a more secular and pluralist society, and towards a rejection of its more traditional and conservative past.
Hostile
The failure of Sinn Fein to become more involved in controversial issues is not all of its own making. A significant section of the labour and feminist move. ments in Britain and Ireland are hostile to Irish republicanism in general and SF in particular.
SF has shown in the past that it is, with the support of the left in Britain and Ireland, capable of a great deal.
In 1980 SF established a women's department and since then has been involved in campaigns to make contracentives more available in the 20 counties and called for on the goverment to recognise break down of a marriage grounds for divorce. supported the Gay Pride march in Dublin and wel. comes the passing of the law which reduced the age of consent to 17 for evervor. regardless of sexual orientation. Sinn Fein presents itself as a socialist republican party on occasions but is in reality a nationalist party In the past Gerry Adams has argued that the party misht be intluenced by Marxism, but there are no Marxists within SF.
At the June 1979 Wolf Tone commemoration Adams argued: "We are not, and never have been a mere Baits out movement...We stand opposed to all forms and manifestations of imperialism and capitalism.* Disappear More recently Adams has clarified this position, arguing that in the event of a united Ireland SF' sreason for existence would disappear, Irish politics would bemembers would disaffiliate and join other organisations.
In effect SF wouk, in this scenario, be limiting itself to the national struggle.
It was in this context that the SF lead. ership issued the document Towards a Lasting Peace in Ireland in February 1992. The stress in this document is on becoming part of any future discussions on a settlement; it seems to see discussions with the bourgoois nationalists of DEBATE the DIP as beine more important than the role of trade unionists and social struggles.
Despite these shifts, there are certain realities which the left in Britain and Ireland need to face up to. Sinn Fein is the only major organisation in Ireland for immediate Batish withdrawal, the only one claiming to be socialist and and-impchaist, therefore our basic stance should be one of supporting SF, while reserving our
SOCIALIST OUTLOOK No. 49. 18 September 1993, Page 12