There are many ways to make me cross. One of the easiest is to ask my views on “the peace process in Northern Ireland”. You’ll get a lot of swearing from which the phrases “there’s no such f###ing thing as Northern Ireland” and “it’s a f###ing imperialist victory” can eventually be discerned. Southwark Respect invited…
There are many ways to make me cross. One of the easiest is to ask my views on “the peace process in Northern Ireland”. You’ll get a lot of swearing from which the phrases “there’s no such f###ing thing as Northern Ireland” and “it’s a f###ing imperialist victory” can eventually be discerned. Southwark Respect invited me to speak on the subject and these are the notes around which I riffed.
I luvs ya. excellent review.
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Hey Liam, thanks for a great talk last night. It’s a pity we didn’t video it. Interesting to think that GDP per capita in the north of Ireland is less than half that of London. These data are very interesting: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Economy_of_Northern_Ireland#Other_Comparisons
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A couple of opoints. The CPI like them or not were a significant factor and their stages theory adopted by the Officials was a negative factor. But in NICRA they were very influential.
Armed struggle a cul de sac worse than Narodniks if you want a Lenin tie in.Elitism which is a barrier to real engagement with masses. The IRSP cannot get the millstone off their backs.
The Suuthern Bourgeoisie try and maintain some autonomy vis a vis Britain. Joining the EU and esp. the Euro was an attempt to balance rival Imperialisms.
There are still many in SF (eg O’Broin) who see some kind of United Itreland strategy (Yes it is a delusion) .
Controversy: The National Struggle is key but is currently on the back burner esp. in the South
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I like your power point, but I wish you did podcasts, too. Hearing Norn Iron Peas Processed is very effective.
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Good presentation Liam, use of power point is a pretty simple and effective way to change meetings from the 15 min lead off.
Why do you think the British state stayed/still remain in the North though? Doesn’t seem to be any significant material benefit for doing so – and with plenty of loss during the 70s and 80s.
General explanation I have heard, mainly from ex-Millies is that the British state wants out of NI but can’t because it would lead to a sectarian war across UK as well.
Personally find that hard to believe as there wasn’t really much significant violence amongst catholics and protestants in the UK during the troubles.
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The Socialist Party / Militant are the second most pro-imperial organisation on the British far left when it comes to Ireland and this de facto support for British troops remaining and the Good Friday Agreement is integral to that.
If the British wanted out they would have gone by now. Instead they have spent millions of pounds building a big new facility for MI5 just outside Belfast. They have a lot of money invested in the place – both north and south of the border – and effectively act as an agent for US and European imperialism on the island. It’s also worth looking at a map to see why the British are keen to make sure their Atlantic approach is in reliable hands.
As for the slides that’s got more to do with the fact that my handwriting is sometimes illegible even to me and Powerpoint obliges you to condense your notes.
It’s not massively popular but I always like to start of any presentation by breaking the audience into groups and making them discuss two or three topics for a few minutes. You learn more by talking and discussing than by passive listening.
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Liam yes – the brits have spent millions of tax money on doing these things; the benefits are primarily for capital: in this way deaths of civilians and of military are unimportant to them (to the brits, as to the capitalists on whose behalf the government works).
i heard the new special branch facility was in Newry – which i suppose on the ‘small scale’ of the occupied North* really is not that far from Belfast, and is also near to Dublin too (it’s a big fkn watchtower, among other things!!)
*smaller than Yorkshire, population a bit bigger than Birmingham if you include Smethwick which is actually in Sandwell..
..and i agree, it’s an excellent presentation!
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I would not start with breaking the group up. A very short intro. Make the topics blunt and topical
Eg A withdrawal would lead to a sectarian war Yes or No.
On a footnote I think that Britain was worried to a degree about the ability of the neo Colony to police things in a stable manner North and potentially south.
Remember as well that no state as far as I know voluntarilly gave up territory.
Ask groups to make bullet point presentations. Short summaries by each group.
Discussion and feedback.
It would be good if a Workers Libery and/or Socialist Parety person were there. Debates between the converts are of little use.
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Liam redux 
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