Building the left republican alternative

international | anti-capitalism | opinion/analysis Monday July 21, 2003 15:14 by Seán

Sinn Féin must play a key role in the emerging global movement for change to secure a global context for our national agenda for change and ensure that national independence does not arrive in a context that reduces it to corporate subservience, argues COUNCILLOR EOIN Ó BROIN

The last four weeks have seen an important exchange in the pages on An Phoblacht. Justin Moran called for a return to class politics; Paul O'Connor explored the possibility of a new political language for the 21st century; Declan Kearney stressed the importance of focusing on our strategic imperatives; and Mitchel McLaughlin reminded us of the legacy of the 1916 Proclamation for radical politics today. These are important contributions in a debate that needs to grow and deepen within the activist circles of Sinn Féin.

We have become accustomed to saying that we are in a time of transition - from conflict to peace, from partition to independence, from the margins to the centre and so on. But there are a series of transitions taking place around us that we seldom discuss enough. As Irish republicanism is developing and becoming stronger, the political and economic map of Ireland, Europe and the world is changing radically. How we understand these changes and respond to them is as important as our own immediate strategic objectives.