Ireland and Europe – The need for a Democratic People’s Rising

A battle of ideas about the future of Irish society is underway as part of a fightback against austerity and the recent Dáil election results are evidence of that

AN IMPORTANT international anti-austerity conference took place in Athens last weekend.

A large number of significant political parties from the political Left in Europe, trade unions and progressive campaign organisations were represented.

On the Saturday night I addressed a large public rally with, Alexis Tspiras, Greek Prime Minister; Pierre Laurent, General Secretary of the French Communist Party; and MEPs Marissa Matias, Ska Keller and Tania Gonzalez.

Alexis Tspiras spoke about Europe and the refugee crisis.

“It cannot keep its borders open to austerity but closed to people fleeing from war in search of hope and refuge,” Tsipras said.

He emphasised the need for the European Union to re-establish itself on the basis of its founding principles of humanity, democracy, solidarity, social justice and political equality between member states. Very importantly, he called for a “new social contract” for economic growth, wealth redistribution and social cohesion across Europe.

I told the audience this year marked the centenary of the 1916 Rising and Easter Proclamation, which set out a vision of transformation in Irish society.

I said a battle of ideas about the future of Irish society was underway as part of a fightback against austerity and the recent election results are evidence of that.

But I also emphasised the political strength of the Left needs to be properly organised to counter the austerity agenda and demonstrate fair recoveries are achievable.

Pierre Laurent put forward an important proposal for a forum to open a new dialogue on the political Left and with other progressives and democrats about alliances and future co-operation.

All the contributions at the rally indicated fresh strategic thinking is developing across the political Left in Europe.

This is to be welcomed.

The fact is that, in global terms, inequality has soared.

It is a scandal that 1% of the world’s population should own more than 50% of global net wealth.

Austerity has been adopted by international financial capital and its political allies on the conservative Right as a new ‘shock doctrine’ to re-establish stability according to its strategic world view.

Austerity is not about economic recovery.

It is entirely about ideology, political control and creating a conservative hegemony.

It is an inherently anti-democratic agenda.

These are the reasons why it has become a pervasive influence within the EU.

This is why the EU played such a vindictive and punitive role against the Greek Government.

The Troika and powerful elements in the EU decided to punish and undermine the Greek Government because it had the audacity to put the democratic sovereignty of the Greek people first.

The Greek experience demands that serious parties of the Left and all progressives engage with the EU as a key site of struggle in order to assert the primacy of a Social Europe, democracy and solidarity.

A political realignment is gradually taking place across Europe.

New Left, popular and progressive political projects have emerged and are growing in political significance.

New political ideas about the future and how to reorganise the political economy of Europe are gaining currency.

The austerity agenda must be countered with alternative and workable policies on:-

·      Economic development and job creation

·      Tax justice

·      Enterprise and growth

·      Sustainable public services

·      Climate change

·      Human rights

Strategically, that requires the building of democratic alliances across all strands of progressive political and civic opinion throughout Europe.

There is a need to make change – not simply talk about it.

Political strength and political power are central to delivering change.

But serious parties of the Left have to remember that just being in Government should not be confused with political power.

Political strength is essential to control the political power which ensures that the institution of Government works as an instrument of transformational change.

That is an essential strategic condition. 

The challenge facing the Left in Europe is to become stronger and more cohesive.

Strategy and political strength are key.

There is no ‘one size fits all’ approach.

The universal values of democracy, equality, social justice, and community solidarity, however, do represent a shared vision for a better Europe and the world.

One of my key messages in Athens last weekend was that we need to be people in a hurry – hungry to make and deliver change.

The world cannot wait.

The Left in Europe (both in Opposition and Government) should be an engine for change.

The political Left in Government needs to consolidate through increased co-operation and by working together.

We need to demonstrate that our policies for fair recovery are not wishful thinking but also achievable. 

Bilateral and multilateral links should be explored and developed on trade; the knowledge economy, innovation and training; mutual investment opportunities; tourism; and more.

The political strength of Left and anti-austerity parties in Government should be used to maximise mutual economic co-operation and the promotion of progressive, democratic programmes which will benefit all our people.

This weekend I will represent Sinn Féin in Dublin on Easter Sunday at the Irish state commemoration.

The Easter Rising was a spark that lit a fire of popular resistance against British rule in Ireland.

Camille Desmoulins, the French revolutionary, said nearly 250 years ago:

“The great only appear great because we are on our knees; let us rise.”

One hundred years on from 1916, there is a need for a Democratic People’s Rising in Ireland – as well as across Europe and the globe – against austerity, poverty and injustice.

The task now facing the political Left and progressive civic society is clear: to become more cohesive and unite to inspire a Democratic People’s Rising for an Ireland of equals and a world of equals.

To repeat James Connolly’s assertion:

“Our demands most moderate are, we only want the Earth.”

Join the Rising.