There has been considerable interest in Britain over whether the election of Fianna Fail leader Charlie Haughey will resolve the Irish situation.
tion of Socialist Republic, Democracy (Irish Section of the Fourth International) that none of the major parties have any policies which can overcome the basic problems of Irish politics: an unfinished national revolution and an underdeveloped economy.
Fianna Fail Coalition have the same basic strategy: defence of ramon arousacea ed collaboration with Briand development", within the framework imperialist domination. In a situation of international political tension and economic crisis this polic! ian be summed up in two words: repression and austerity.
That is what a growing number of Irish people are beginning to see. And the JUIC they see it the less they like it. The resull is BRENDAN KELLY argues in the latest edipaper of Peoples popular distrust of the major parties.
This fact was borne out February the results the It was serious in the history of the The media and the politicians agreed that for the first time ever the eleccorate would vote for personalities. In the event the havocaco. clear national voting pattern emerged. Swings were mainly on a local basis and tended cancel each other our. People did not vote on Dollel issues but on local ones.
But peculiarities of each result there Was clear message: popular fidence in the ability of the major parties to solve funand damental political economic problems was considerably down.
Some of the local swines nowever could nave d national importance in the TUD. This ticularly true of the outcome in Dublin for exam ple. Extra Both Fianna Fail and Fine (ael increased their share of the poll in this area but in radically different ways.
Fianna Fail gained significant extra support in WOrKIng class districts while Fine Gael pulled in the middle class vote. Even more interestingly it was the traditionally "liberal" sections of the middle class (which supported left inNoel Brown and John O'Conits biggest hoost What this reflects is an initial class polarisation. The middle class opted for most conscious and and austerity while Workes rectica this is only a tentative developmeni since, while Fine Gael consciously speaks middle class, Fianna Fail in no wa! represents an alternative for workers.
Despite the depth of political and economic crisis in Ireland it is clear that workers saw no national alternative to the existing set-up. This showed up especially in the performance of the anti-imperialist movement. The Sinn Fein vote and the Bernadette McAliskey campaign sponsored hy PD confirmed that the anti-imperialist movemen nas i foothold in the South. The anti-imperialist candidates polled herween 5-7 per cent wherever they stood. This was a result similar 1o that of Sinn Fein - ne Workers Parv. Believe But there is no room for complacencv. The momentum H-Block campaign not maintained collan hunger strike found its greatest support when these people were lookie lor someone to de lend them they did serious beneve that the anti-imperialist movement could play such a role There are a number of lessons in all this. First. the economic and social implications of imperialis domination nave lo he systematically integrate Into the overall imperialis, Ami imperialists must he able to give detailed answers 1o the multitude of ereryday problems which afflict working people.
Secondly IS nO enough nate a pro gramme: also be able necessary fight for il. This means winning the confidence of workers by consistent work in their arcas and their organisations (trade Without building suppor thi gain real credibility among KOINCIS Thirdly, the imperialist must he able to present itself as a united national alternative to the established Political organisations such as Sinn Fein, Peoples Democrity and the 'IRSP have Together and develop a ma- responsibility come tional alliance which will be active in every nook and cranny of the country.
Li SOCIALIST REPUBLIC EXPLOITATION, REPRESSION, PARTITIOA Socialist Republic Available Other Bookshop, Upper St London NI 2XP local Socialist Challenge supporters. Cost 20p plus 11½ p&p
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