Partisan • Patriotic • Internationalist
US economist and diplomat John Kenneth Galbraith coined the phrase and concept of a “contented majority”. This “majority” he sees as being those in the western world who benefit from the current state of affairs, even if unevenly, and dominate politically producing a “culture of contentment”, showing disdain for those […]
After a seven-month wait for a Programme of (Mis)Government, the Executive produced vague promises on health and housing, with no specific targets. While easy to criticize the administrative class for incompetence, they are constrained by limited autonomy over fiscal matters, while facing challenges that demand significant investment. A key issue, […]
As the debate around Irish reunification gathers pace in Socialist Voice and elsewhere, we must not leave unity as an open goal to the British and Irish governments. We must build a left case for unity: the people’s unity of Ireland with the priority being the needs, wants and desires […]
This year saw a minor rise in electoral support in Ireland for the far right and poorly disguised criminal elements at the last local elections. These forces inserted themselves into community opposition and concerns about the establishing of various centres being set up by the state to house both those […]
Recent articles in Socialist Voice by Comrades O’Neill, McGoldrick, and Murphy explore whether the left should support Sinn Féin in the upcoming election. While both sets of authors present persuasive arguments, the debate may be misplaced. It’s unlikely that Sinn Féin is particularly concerned with the socialist left or its […]
The CPI warned that the Irish government’s decision to recognise the State of Palestine would remain no more than a gesture unless it was backed up by action. Unfortunately, not only did the government not give substance to its declaration, but it has since been revealed that it has allowed […]
Produced by Azzy O’Connor, Fiadh Tubridy and Declan Mallon, The Rent Strike (2024) documentary was shown in the Irish Film Institute in August. Screening across Ireland are being scheduled at the moment, with a growing public interest across all generations. The Rent Strike uses archive footage, newspaper articles, personal archives […]
The rumour mill is suggesting that a General Election in the Republic is perhaps closer than previously indicated by the Taoiseach. Tensions between the coalition partners over issues such as taxation of zoned farmland may cause the government to fall, forcing the incumbents to go to the country. Fuelling this […]
The airways and newspapers have been full of discussion around the “housing crisis”, its nature and possible causes and effects. What was clear from the recent local election results is that the majority of those who voted did so for parties who support the status quo, who support the economic […]
To the Marxist it is indisputable that a revolution is impossible without a revolutionary situation; furthermore, it is not every revolutionary situation that leads to revolution. What, generally speaking, are the symptoms of a revolutionary situation? We shall certainly not be mistaken if we indicate the following three major symptoms: […]
FÓGRA: Féile na bhFlaitheartach 2024“Idirnáisiúnachas Thomáis agus Liam Uí Fhlaithearta”“The internationalism of Tom and Liam O’Flaherty” A chairde, Is cúis áthais dúinn é a fhógairt gur ar an Satharn 24 Lúnasa agus Dé Domhnaigh 25 Lúnasa a bheas Féile na bhFlaitheartach ar siúl i mbliana ar Inis Mór, Árainn. Mar […]
How spontaneous are violent right-wing actions currently taking place in both jurisdictions on this island? There can be little doubt that sinister elements are playing a role organising these disturbances but what is the magnitude of the threat posed by these agitators. Are they just a small number of dangerous […]
With Sinn Féin recently securing a hat trick of seats, their border poll call has escalated. In this article, unity economics are engaged to strengthen preparation for such prospects and likely aftermath. In doing so, I assume that the economics of unity will be settled between the British and Irish […]
Many shades of Republicans and other groups/parties on the Left, have been calling for a coming together of the broader Left for some years now. Recently though, the calls for “unity of purpose” appear to be a bit more prolific, on social media and public speeches. Eoghan O’Neill, writing in […]
In the June issue of the Socialist Voice I wrote an opinion piece intended to stimulate a debate on what I thought was the best strategy in the electoral arena, specifically looking at the upcoming General Elections in the 26 counties. That article has indeed sparked discussion and it has […]
The following article is presented to offer up for debate a potential transformative electoral strategy in the wake of the recent local and EU elections. There is a wider and more important debate and strategy to be formulated over the coming months and years on how to deepen and broaden […]