Republicanism in transition (2) Beginning a debate compiled by Michael Hall ISLAND 97 PAMPHLETS 1 Published June 2011 by Island Publications/Farset Community Think Tanks Project 466 Springfield Road, Belfast BT12 7DW © Michael Hall 2011
[email protected] http://cain.ulst.ac.uk/islandpublications ISBN 978-1-899510-90-0 Cover photographs © Michael Hall The project wishes to thank all those individuals who participated in the discussions and interviews from which this pamphlet was compiled This publication has received support from the Northern Ireland Community Relations Council which aims to promote a pluralist society characterised by equity, respect for diversity, and recognition of interdependence. The views expressed do not necessarily reflect those of the Council. Printed by Regency Press, Belfast 2 Introduction This is the second in a series of pamphlets on the theme Republicanism in transition. They were initiated following requests from republican community activists who felt that pamphlets – and the discussions from which they were compiled – could help facilitate a much-needed debate within grassroots republicanism. The first pamphlet [Island Pamphlet No. 96, The need for a debate†] provided the opportunity for different republican organisations to state their respective positions on a number of pertinent issues, without any editorial censorship and without those positions being challenged in a group setting. The idea behind this second pamphlet was to invite representatives from the participating organisations to engage in face-to-face discussions around those same issues. The individuals who participated in the discussions which form the basis of this second document are either current members, or were former members, of a number of republican groupings: Official Republican Movement, éirígí, Republican Network for Unity, Irish Republican Socialist Party, Republican Sinn Féin, 32 County Sovereignty Movement, and Sinn Féin.