Sinn Fein (we ourselves) is the political wing of the irish republican
movement.
Although founded in the first decade of this century, it was not until
the current phase of the irish struggle(1969 onward) that it has had any
true impact on irish politics. The modern party of today has evolved and
changed during this period, much of the change has occured due to the increasing
level of political awareness among republicians.
There have been a number of watersheds which have had the effect of
transforming what was a protest group into todays party , the first
of these was the 1981 H block hunger strike. It was at this time that the
leaders of S.F first
realised that it was possible to harness the support for the republican
movement in an effective way. The successful election campaigns of both
Bobby
Sands M.P and Kieran Doherty T.D , who were both elected during the
hunger strike on which they later died , laid the bedrock on which future
election successes were built.
The second major watershed was the decision ,in 1987 , to abandon the
policy of abstensionism in regard to the irish parliament . Abstensionism
had been a cornerstone of S.F policy since 1922 and was regarded by many
as a sacred cow. The abandonment of it meant that any S.F candidate elected
to the irish parliament could now take their seat.
Today S.F has two M.Ps Gerry Adams and Martin McGuinness and one T.D
Caoimhin O’Caoilain , and many representitives on local authorities. It
is currently taking part in peace talks with the british government and
is generally regarded as abone fide political party . It has also been
seen to have the capacity to influence the irish republican army to a major
degree, as is evidenced by the current ceasefire.
Since 1969 SinnFein has moved from being a street protest group , through
the era of the “armalite and ballot box” strategy , to the point today
where irelands fight for freedom is fought solely at the polls.
The current peace talks will have to result in a british dis
engagement from northern ireland if S.F are to develop further . Anything
less could see a massive loss of support within the republican movement
for democratic politics and it is unlikely that the S.F leadership could
control the military wing in such a situation. However if the talks
do produce an agreed settlement S.F may prove to be the rising star of
irish politics.
moonwolf.
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Further Reading.
The 1981 hunger strike The Irish Republican Army. Sinn Fein Homepage. An Phoblacht/Republican News. Back to Politics
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