[FONT=Verdana]Has anybody in the Group got any views on how we can make republican socialism relevant in the day to day lives of the people of Ireland?[/FONT] [FONT=Verdana]And on an International context how relevant as an Ideology could Republican Socialism become to other countries.[/FONT]
I think the ideas of republican socialism are interchangeable with ideologies such as marxism. The term republican socialism is only neccesary as many leftists are for some reason anti national liberation when it comes to Ireland. The ideas of republican socialism should be embraced by all socialists.
I agree with Hoggy, that republican socialism is just Marxism in the context of Ireland. That's historically how it originated. Those that disagree with republican socialism on the left are really the ones diverging from Marx. That doesn't make them wrong or right, of course, one can argue that republican socialism is no longer relevant or times have changed so that the republican socialist analysis is no longer valid. But we're really in the tradition of Marx, Engels and Lenin than the anti-republican type lefties are. I think to make it mroe relevant, the key is to take part in the struggles of working people and try to be their voice. I agree with the activism some IRSP members are doing. eirigi seems more like agit prop.
I concur with the valuable points of PRC and Hoggy above. I would add that due to the the collapse of the 26-county's bubble service economy, Irish minds in the "South" will turn again to the historic industrial base in the 6-county "North" as an intrinsic part of the economic development of all-Ireland.
good points all, and the main point is that the origins of the irish workers movement held a deep republican feeling. Connolly is infamous around the world for uniting the socialist and anti-imperialist movement so fully. Marx, Engles and even Bakunin saw ireland as a great example of the anti-imperialist movement, even though it wasn't hugely industrialised for a socialist one. The Free State is in flux, but is still the civil war state of nearly 90 years ago, only reactionary campaigns really make a difference.
