Options
Redefining republicanism : a political perspective ; an academic perspective
Alternative Title
Redefining republicanism : a political perspective
Redefining republicanism : an academic perspective
Author(s)
Date Issued
2001
Date Available
2010-07-20T15:26:40Z
Abstract
A POLITICAL PERSPECTIVE:
The core principles on which Irish republicanism is based include commitments to popular sovereignty and to unity between the people of the island of Ireland. The struggle of republican leaders in the past resulted ultimately in the Good Friday agreement, which presents republicans and others with a challenge for the new century. The republican vision of the future is one in which the goals of equality, democracy and the maximum welfare of the maximum number will be achieved, with due attention to the needs of the international community. It also implies rejection of British government interference; but it is inclusive in its defintion of the new multicultural Ireland, which extends a position of great influence to the unionist community and a welcome to immigrants.
AN ACADEMIC PERSPECTIVE:
The concept of “republicanism” has been a strongly contested one in contemporary Ireland. Some have argued that the Republic of Ireland, notwithstanding its name, fell short of the reality of republican status. Especially within Northern Ireland, “re-publicanism” acquired a meaning that was very different from the similarly named ideologies to be found in France and the United States. The theoretical development of Irish republicanism was strikingly limited, with advances in this area largely confined to recent decades. In particular, from the mid-1980s onwards, republicanism began to experience a fundamental redefinition, as the primacy of politics over violence began to be established. This culminated in a new relationship with consti-tutional nationalism and ultimately in the signing of the 1998 agreement, implying a new and more inclusive vision of the future.
Sponsorship
Not applicable
Type of Material
Working Paper
Publisher
University College Dublin. Institute for British-Irish Studies
Series
IBIS Working Papers
5
Redefining the union and the nation: new perspectives on political progress in Ireland Lecture Series
5
Copyright (Published Version)
The authors, 2001
Keywords
Subject – LCSH
Republicanism--Ireland
Republicanism--Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland--Politics and government
Language
English
Status of Item
Peer reviewed
Conference Details
Revised text of two lectures presented as part of the seminar se-ries “Redefining the union and the nation: new perspectives on political progress in Ireland”, organised jointly by the Conference of University Rectors in Ireland and the Institute for British-Irish Studies. The lectures were presented in UCD on 4 De-cember 2000.
ISSN
1649-0304
This item is made available under a Creative Commons License
File(s)
Views
2194
Acquisition Date
Mar 28, 2024
Mar 28, 2024
Downloads
187
Acquisition Date
Mar 28, 2024
Mar 28, 2024