In Irish Elections, Bernadette
Points Way Forward For Anti-Imperialist Movement
By Gerry Foley
While she did not win a seat, and her vote was far smaller than had been indicated by the enthusiasm and sympathy she aroused in campaigning, Bernadette Devlin McAliskey's fight in Dublin-North Central was the principal bright spot for the Irish anti-imperialist movement.
The results of the February 18 Irish general elections reflected the sharp downturn that set in in the anti-imperialist movement following the partial defeat of the second hunger strike campaign.
The bourgeoisie's political position has been strengthened more than would appear from the relatively small shift in the parliamentary lineup.
The Irish parliament, the Dail, is still deadlocked. The Fine GaelLabour coalition appears to have 78 members (TDs) as against 81 for the bourgeois populist Fianna Fail Party. The balance of power is held by four pro-imperialist "socialists." There are two other independents close to Fianna Fail. The total number of independents remains the same as in the last Dail.
However, the last time the independents divided three-three, three close to Fianna Fail, three close to Fine Gael. The coalition could form a government only with the votes of its three independents although it had a two-vote edge over Fianna Fail.
Such a fragile government could not institute the austerity the Irish bourgeoisie needs. The "left" proimperialists ran for cover the moment it introduced really unpopular legislation, bringing down the government.
The task of opening the austerity drive has now fallen into the hands of the historic majority party, the one about which the workers have the most illusions. And the block of pro-imperialist sectarian "socialists' has been politically considerably strengthened.
The mass base of the populist Fianna Fail creates two contradictory effects. It is more subject to the mass pressure that can be brought to bear by a movement such as the H-Block movement. But in the absence of mass pressure, it can get away with more repression and attacks on the masses than the more openly conservative and pro-imperialist Fine Gael. There is little doubt that the new government will be better able to continue the attack on the rights and standard of living of the masses than the outgoing one, if the mass movement does not revive.
The vote for the anti-imperialist candidates was down significantly from the totals achieved in the last general election, which was held in June 1981 at the height of the second H- Block hunger strike campaign. In no area did an H- Block candidate win.
The campaign waged by Bernadette Devlin McAliskey in DublinNorth Central made the most national impact. But she won only about two thousand first preference votes, about half what her supporters expected and she got nowhere near getting a seat.
The main reason for a relatively low vote for Bernadette was apparently that the anti-imperialist movement was paying the price for letting the political initiative slip from its hands. It failed to move ahead after the June general election to build a united front for fighting the new elections that were clearly coming. Since the national movement lost its momentum, Irish politics slipped back into their localist rut.
Although the Irish bourgeoisie is now in a stronger position, it has far from restabilized the situation. And if the sort of organization and example Bernadette produced in Dublin-North Central is extended, the anti-imperialist movement could emerge qualitatively strengthened from this last period of groping.