You are here
Home ›By the bullet or by the ballot – McGuinness's nationalism part of the capitalist order
Martin McGuinness (1950-2017)
The death of the recently retired Deputy First Minister of Northern Ireland produced a very predictable response from the establishment, particularly in Britain and Ireland.
The Mr Hyde McGuinness who had been a leading figure in the Provisional IRA (PIRA) was the epitome of evil incarnate. However, following the "new dispensation" starting with the Good Friday Agreement of 1989, Dr Jekyll McGuinness was a progressive hero. Indeed, for many years, the press had honoured Mr McGuinness and the equally avuncular Dr Paisley with the honorary title "The Chuckle Brothers". Sic transit gloria.
Internationalist workers are less easily confused. Whether they are in the phase of military struggle to get their place around the government table or, when they've achieved their aims, the McGuinnesses of late imperialism represent bourgeois factions within a capitalist world order, pure and simple. At both stages, and at all intermediate points, their programme is one of restructuring the existing political frame and in no way is a “step to socialism”. The spreading of their nationalist poison divides the working class. Working class people who are convinced by their siren calls are bullet-fodder at the start and victims of undiminished exploitation at the end.
IRA Commander to Deputy First Minister - the Logic of Nationalism
Martin McGuiness's formal position in PIRA is of no consequence to us. It is clear that he was one of their leaders in Derry and amongst the upper echelons of the entire organisation. There seems no doubt that he held such positions throughout the 1970s, 80s and 90s at the end of which time PIRA/Sinn Fein had adopted the "ballot box" in preference to the "Armalite".
The full history of the imperialist twists and turns from the start of "the Troubles" in the late 1960s could be the subject of a far longer article. For the present, let us focus on the pivot whereby McGuinness, following a host of others including Makarios, Kenyatta and Mugabe, experienced metamorphosis. They move from being a "terrorist who has no place in the discussions" to a place in a safe (for capitalism!) government. Usually, this follows a period where either openly or covertly – as was the case with the UK Government and PIRA for much of the 1980s and 1990s – the terrorist becomes the feted statesperson.
During their military campaign PIRA could justifiably be seen as the most effective exponents of the tradition of "physical Force Repulicanism". Their reaction to "the Troubles" was to resurrect the struggle for a United capitalist Ireland which had been lost militarily in the 1920s. In the words of the Republican song their militants identified with "the men(sic) who intend to do the killing until England's tyranny cease". From the Republican song, "Take it Down From the Mast".
After more than 20 years it became clear that the partition of Ireland was not going to be overturned by PIRA's military campaign. That in itself was not enough to push the leadership of PIRA, or its political co-thinkers, Sinn Fein to change course.
The cause of the sea-change which the Republicans undertook was a very simple and material reason. Throughout their existence PIRA had been sustained by donations from supporters in the USA. The rug was finally pulled from under them when the Clinton administration, working with both the Irish and British Governments switched tack. During the 1990s the imperialist order pulled the plug on the flow of funds and launched what became known as the "Peace Process". This came to a culmination with the "Good Friday Agreement" of 1998.
The Republican leadership was entirely complicit in the process where the capitalists mapped out a settlement to "normalise" exploitation in the 6 counties, with Gerry Adams, now a TD – member of the Irish Dail (Parliament), and Martin McGuinness being the most visible representatives.
As the settlement bedded in PIRA established a permanent ceasefire and, at least officially, destroyed their weaponry. The quid pro quo was that the Northern Ireland Legislative Assembly was established in which Sinn Fein has a position alongside Unionist politicians, where their "snouts are guaranteed a place in the trough". Until his recent resignation through ill health, Martin McGuinness's role in the capitalist order had been crowned with the title of "Deputy First Minister".
Socialism not Nationalism, the Way Forward
As with all other nationalisms in the imperialist phase of capitalism, Irish nationalism is alien to the struggle for a socialist future. Martin McGuiness's rise to a position of authority stemmed from his involvement with the PIRA. From its establishment PIRA consciously abandoned the leftist, Stalinist positions that its predecessor, which became the Official IRA, had developed.
For PIRA the vision of a 32-county united capitalist Ireland was held out as the "Holy Grail" for the supporters. Even as McGuiness was in his last weeks, his political party Sinn Fein, was using the future chaos which Brexit will unleash to campaign precisely for a 32-county capitalist Ireland as part of a 27-state European Union. This shows again how Irish nationalism simply represents a section of the interests of Irish capitalism. A section which see a hard border between the north and south of the island as an economic disaster.
We have previously commented on the 1916 Easter uprising [1] and in particular of the tragedy of those socialists who became overwhelmed by the wave of nationalism. In particular, it is appropriate to quote James Connolly, who had struggled for a vision of Socialism for many years prior to being murdered by the British State for his role in the Uprising.
Connolly wrote in 1897, "If you remove the English army tomorrow and hoist the green flag over Dublin Castle, unless you set about the organisation of the Socialist Republic your efforts would be in vain." [2]
The preceding quote, in a nutshell, marks out the class nature of Irish Nationalism and the argument for the 32-county Republic.
For McGuinness, deputy First Minister of Northern Ireland (2007-2017), a further quote from Connolly will serve as his epitaph. "Yes, friends, governments in capitalist society are but committees of the rich to manage the affairs of the capitalist class." [3]
KT
22 March 2017
Notes
[1] leftcom.org
[2] Shan Van Vocht January, 1897. Reprinted in P. Beresford Ellis (ed.), "James Connolly - Selected Writings", p. 124. Nowadays, of course, our conception of socialism has advanced beyond the notion of a “socialist republic” in any one country but Connolly here was merely expressing the notion that real liberation for the working class can only come with the overthrow of capitalism.
[3] Irish Worker 29 August, 1915. Reprinted in P. Beresford Ellis (ed.), "James Connolly - Selected Writings", p. 248
Start here...
- Navigating the Basics
- Platform
- For Communism
- Introduction to Our History
- CWO Social Media
- IWG Social Media
- Klasbatalo Social Media
- Italian Communist Left
- Russian Communist Left
The Internationalist Communist Tendency consists of (unsurprisingly!) not-for-profit organisations. We have no so-called “professional revolutionaries”, nor paid officials. Our sole funding comes from the subscriptions and donations of members and supporters. Anyone wishing to donate can now do so safely using the Paypal buttons below.
ICT publications are not copyrighted and we only ask that those who reproduce them acknowledge the original source (author and website leftcom.org). Purchasing any of the publications listed (see catalogue) can be done in two ways:
- By emailing us at uk@leftcom.org, us@leftcom.org or ca@leftcom.org and asking for our banking details
- By donating the cost of the publications required via Paypal using the “Donate” buttons
The CWO also offers subscriptions to Revolutionary Perspectives (3 issues) and Aurora (at least 4 issues):
- UK £15 (€18)
- Europe £20 (€24)
- World £25 (€30, $30)
Take out a supporter’s sub by adding £10 (€12) to each sum. This will give you priority mailings of Aurora and other free pamphlets as they are produced.
ICT sections
Basics
- Bourgeois revolution
- Competition and monopoly
- Core and peripheral countries
- Crisis
- Decadence
- Democracy and dictatorship
- Exploitation and accumulation
- Factory and territory groups
- Financialization
- Globalization
- Historical materialism
- Imperialism
- Our Intervention
- Party and class
- Proletarian revolution
- Seigniorage
- Social classes
- Socialism and communism
- State
- State capitalism
- War economics
Facts
- Activities
- Arms
- Automotive industry
- Books, art and culture
- Commerce
- Communications
- Conflicts
- Contracts and wages
- Corporate trends
- Criminal activities
- Disasters
- Discriminations
- Discussions
- Drugs and dependencies
- Economic policies
- Education and youth
- Elections and polls
- Energy, oil and fuels
- Environment and resources
- Financial market
- Food
- Health and social assistance
- Housing
- Information and media
- International relations
- Law
- Migrations
- Pensions and benefits
- Philosophy and religion
- Repression and control
- Science and technics
- Social unrest
- Terrorist outrages
- Transports
- Unemployment and precarity
- Workers' conditions and struggles
History
- 01. Prehistory
- 02. Ancient History
- 03. Middle Ages
- 04. Modern History
- 1800: Industrial Revolution
- 1900s
- 1910s
- 1911-12: Turko-Italian War for Libya
- 1912: Intransigent Revolutionary Fraction of the PSI
- 1912: Republic of China
- 1913: Fordism (assembly line)
- 1914-18: World War I
- 1917: Russian Revolution
- 1918: Abstentionist Communist Fraction of the PSI
- 1918: German Revolution
- 1919-20: Biennio Rosso in Italy
- 1919-43: Third International
- 1919: Hungarian Revolution
- 1930s
- 1931: Japan occupies Manchuria
- 1933-43: New Deal
- 1933-45: Nazism
- 1934: Long March of Chinese communists
- 1934: Miners' uprising in Asturias
- 1934: Workers' uprising in "Red Vienna"
- 1935-36: Italian Army Invades Ethiopia
- 1936-38: Great Purge
- 1936-39: Spanish Civil War
- 1937: International Bureau of Fractions of the Communist Left
- 1938: Fourth International
- 1940s
- 1960s
- 1980s
- 1979-89: Soviet war in Afghanistan
- 1980-88: Iran-Iraq War
- 1982: First Lebanon War
- 1982: Sabra and Chatila
- 1986: Chernobyl disaster
- 1987-93: First Intifada
- 1989: Fall of the Berlin Wall
- 1979-90: Thatcher Government
- 1980: Strikes in Poland
- 1982: Falklands War
- 1983: Foundation of IBRP
- 1984-85: UK Miners' Strike
- 1987: Perestroika
- 1989: Tiananmen Square Protests
- 1990s
- 1991: Breakup of Yugoslavia
- 1991: Dissolution of Soviet Union
- 1991: First Gulf War
- 1992-95: UN intervention in Somalia
- 1994-96: First Chechen War
- 1994: Genocide in Rwanda
- 1999-2000: Second Chechen War
- 1999: Introduction of euro
- 1999: Kosovo War
- 1999: WTO conference in Seattle
- 1995: NATO Bombing in Bosnia
- 2000s
- 2000: Second intifada
- 2001: September 11 attacks
- 2001: Piqueteros Movement in Argentina
- 2001: War in Afghanistan
- 2001: G8 Summit in Genoa
- 2003: Second Gulf War
- 2004: Asian Tsunami
- 2004: Madrid train bombings
- 2005: Banlieue riots in France
- 2005: Hurricane Katrina
- 2005: London bombings
- 2006: Anti-CPE movement in France
- 2006: Comuna de Oaxaca
- 2006: Second Lebanon War
- 2007: Subprime Crisis
- 2008: Onda movement in Italy
- 2008: War in Georgia
- 2008: Riots in Greece
- 2008: Pomigliano Struggle
- 2008: Global Crisis
- 2008: Automotive Crisis
- 2009: Post-election crisis in Iran
- 2009: Israel-Gaza conflict
- 2020s
- 1920s
- 1921-28: New Economic Policy
- 1921: Communist Party of Italy
- 1921: Kronstadt Rebellion
- 1922-45: Fascism
- 1922-52: Stalin is General Secretary of PCUS
- 1925-27: Canton and Shanghai revolt
- 1925: Comitato d'Intesa
- 1926: General strike in Britain
- 1926: Lyons Congress of PCd’I
- 1927: Vienna revolt
- 1928: First five-year plan
- 1928: Left Fraction of the PCd'I
- 1929: Great Depression
- 1950s
- 1970s
- 1969-80: Anni di piombo in Italy
- 1971: End of the Bretton Woods System
- 1971: Microprocessor
- 1973: Pinochet's military junta in Chile
- 1975: Toyotism (just-in-time)
- 1977-81: International Conferences Convoked by PCInt
- 1977: '77 movement
- 1978: Economic Reforms in China
- 1978: Islamic Revolution in Iran
- 1978: South Lebanon conflict
- 2010s
- 2010: Greek debt crisis
- 2011: War in Libya
- 2011: Indignados and Occupy movements
- 2011: Sovereign debt crisis
- 2011: Tsunami and Nuclear Disaster in Japan
- 2011: Uprising in Maghreb
- 2014: Euromaidan
- 2016: Brexit Referendum
- 2017: Catalan Referendum
- 2019: Maquiladoras Struggle
- 2010: Student Protests in UK and Italy
- 2011: War in Syria
- 2013: Black Lives Matter Movement
- 2014: Military Intervention Against ISIS
- 2015: Refugee Crisis
- 2018: Haft Tappeh Struggle
- 2018: Climate Movement
People
- Amadeo Bordiga
- Anton Pannekoek
- Antonio Gramsci
- Arrigo Cervetto
- Bruno Fortichiari
- Bruno Maffi
- Celso Beltrami
- Davide Casartelli
- Errico Malatesta
- Fabio Damen
- Fausto Atti
- Franco Migliaccio
- Franz Mehring
- Friedrich Engels
- Giorgio Paolucci
- Guido Torricelli
- Heinz Langerhans
- Helmut Wagner
- Henryk Grossmann
- Karl Korsch
- Karl Liebknecht
- Karl Marx
- Leon Trotsky
- Lorenzo Procopio
- Mario Acquaviva
- Mauro jr. Stefanini
- Michail Bakunin
- Onorato Damen
- Ottorino Perrone (Vercesi)
- Paul Mattick
- Rosa Luxemburg
- Vladimir Lenin
Politics
- Anarchism
- Anti-Americanism
- Anti-Globalization Movement
- Antifascism and United Front
- Antiracism
- Armed Struggle
- Autonomism and Workerism
- Base Unionism
- Bordigism
- Communist Left Inspired
- Cooperativism and autogestion
- DeLeonism
- Environmentalism
- Fascism
- Feminism
- German-Dutch Communist Left
- Gramscism
- ICC and French Communist Left
- Islamism
- Italian Communist Left
- Leninism
- Liberism
- Luxemburgism
- Maoism
- Marxism
- National Liberation Movements
- Nationalism
- No War But The Class War
- PCInt-ICT
- Pacifism
- Parliamentary Center-Right
- Parliamentary Left and Reformism
- Peasant movement
- Revolutionary Unionism
- Russian Communist Left
- Situationism
- Stalinism
- Statism and Keynesism
- Student Movement
- Titoism
- Trotskyism
- Unionism
Regions
User login
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported License.