Through Irish Eyes - a column from Socialist Democracy, Irish section of the 4th International
Not one single vote was cast against the new Agreement when it was debated and approved in the Dail, the Irish parliament. Partition is to be legitimised. A statelet whose only justification is a sectarian one is to be held up as a model of democracy in the new Ireland.
This represents the formal abandonment of the core argument of Irish nationalism by all the leaders of the ‘nationalist family’. If the unionist minority in the six counties is to be allowed to deny self-determination to the majority of the Irish people now, why should this not also have been the case in 1918?
The leaders of nationalist Ireland have betrayed the democratic aspirations of the majority of the Irish people. This betrayal has been covered with a mountain of propaganda by almost every party attempting to disguise or justify their actions.
Almost every single media outlet, from television to newspapers has supported the deal. Despite this politicians are amazed at the large minority who in opinion polls are indicating they will vote against the proposed changes
Just like the original partition, today’s ‘settlement’ is being sold on the basis that the only alternative is war. When partition was imposed, the British threatened the representatives of nationalist Ireland with immediate and terrible war if they did not accept British terms. Today we are told that there is no alternative to the deal except violence. The population of Ireland north and south is being blackmailed.
But no one has paused to examine this argument. Who exactly is threatening the violence? It is usually claimed that the ‘extremists’ on both sides, the Continuity IRA or the Loyalist Volunteer Force are the only remaining threats to peace. But these organisations have made it clear there will be no end to their armed activity even if the deal comes into operation.
The real threat to peace does not come from outside the process. It comes from within – from the so-called peacemakers. It is they who threaten a return to war.
It is they who have no alternative to the deal.
Bertie Ahern’s argues that the two referenda, north and south represent ‘the first exercise of self-determination in Ireland since 1918’. In other words the Irish people will exercise self-determination – in order to deny themselves that right!
It is fitting that on the same day as the vote on articles two and three, there is also a vote on the Amsterdam Treaty agreed by the European Union governments as the next step in the consolidation of a European capitalism.
The Irish capitalist class can close the door on their historic task of creating a nation state, and open another door in the subordination of the country and its resources to the exploitation of international imperialism. This is what they mean when they talk of being post-nationalist. I
The crippling weakness of those opposed to the deal is a lack of leadership and the bankrupt strategy of the republican opposition to the deal. All the traditional leaderships of the Irish working class are hooked on the crumbs that fall from the table of international capitalism .
They feel vindicated by the success of a southern economy that has recorded huge growth rates over the past number of years The last thing these people – or the Irish capitalist class– want is to upset the present political set-up by challenging imperialism
This ignores the continuing chronic poverty and inequality that characterise Irish society. Unemployment is still nowhere near what it was at the start of the decade despite the economic growth and even the optimistic acknowledge that this level of growth cannot continue.
The political and economic programmes of the Irish capitalist class are combined. Despite the hype around both they do not offer the Irish working class a peaceful, democratic or prosperous future.
If ever it had to be said that the only alternative to present society is a socialist one, it is now.