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 […]
Ireland
Neutrality Under The Axe
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 […]
The Rent Strike: Film Review
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 […]
Elections in the Republic
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 […]
Financiliasation of Housing & Elections – Where Do We Go From Here?
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 […]
Challenging Hegemony to Breakthrough
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: […]
Féile na bhFlaitheartach 2024
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 […]
Ruling Class Sowing Discontent
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 […]
The Economics and Politics of Unity
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 […]
A Transformative Political Strategy – Decentralised Democracy and bourgeois electoralism – a reply to Comrade Eoghan O’Neill.
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 […]
Building Beyond Electoralism
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 […]
An Electoral Transformative Strategy
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 […]
Why would we hand over our achievements to those who oppose us?
Many Socialist Republican and anti-imperialist groups in Ireland have a well-founded distrust of our parliamentary political system. They know from bitter experience that no solutions for the plight of the working class or a United Socialist Ireland will emanate from there. To quote Connolly: “Governments in capitalist society are but […]
Republicanism and Working-Class ideology
On the 23rd of July 1803, Robert Emmet led roughly 80 men towards Dublin Castle. They were armed with pikes, pistols and blunderbusses. Emmet wouldn’t see the drunken riot that his revolution would descend into – the lack of discipline amongst the men caused him to leave Dublin and go […]
The dangerous framing of a Putin Puppet
“Fuck off Kremlin Clare, you Putin puppet”, shouted a Dublin man leaving Lidl in Dublin as Clare Daly politely asked him for a number one vote in the upcoming EU elections. Just one of dozens of abusive comments made during the 2024 EU election campaign. Some called her a c*nt, […]
Starmer and the North
The upcoming UK elections are poised to bring Labour to power in Britain. The question that arises is, what implications will a Starmer government have for Ireland? The answer is very little. While Labour’s plan to revoke the Legacy Act is a positive step, their energy, transport, and workers’ rights […]