Is it still about ‘the split’? The ideological basis of ‘dissident’ Irish republicanism since 1986 Sophie Whiting Department of Politics The University of Liverpool Contents Abstract ........................................................................................................................................................ iii Glossary and Abbreviations .......................................................................................................................... v Tables and figures ...................................................................................................................................... viii Acknowledgements ...................................................................................................................................... ix Introduction: The Research Questions and Thesis Methodology ................................................................. 1 Chapter 1 Literature review: Evaluating Historic Splits in Irish Republicanism; is there space for the emergence of ‘dissident’ republicanism? .......................................................................................................................... 22 Chapter 2 Irish Republicanism as an ideology: are there agreed components? ........................................................... 57 Chapter 3 Creating Political Space for ‘Dissidents’? The Extent of Ideological Compromise by Sinn Féin and ‘Provisional’ Republicanism ....................................................................................................................... 91 Chapter 4 Continuity or Dissidence? Assessing the ‘dissident’ republican standpoint: origins and mandates ......... 127 Chapter 5 Continuity or Dissidence? Assessing the ‘dissident’ republican standpoint: strategy, broad fronts and campaigns ................................................................................................................................................. 160 Chapter 6 Militarism as a component of dissident republicanism ............................................................................. 180 Chapter 7 ‘The Discourse of Defence’: ‘Dissident’ Irish Republican Newspapers and the ‘Propaganda War’ ....... 215 Conclusion ................................................................................................................................................ 252 Bibliography...............................................................................................................................................261 ii Abstract The focus of this thesis is on the evolution of dissidence within Irish republicanism since 1986, the contemporary phase of competing interpretations of the Irish republican tradition and ideology. Across the various strands of Irish republicanism there exists agreement over the ultimate goal of a united Ireland, but the means of achieving this remain highly contested. Republicanism is represented by a broad spectrum of tactics and principles; from those who consider armed struggle to be an essential element of any republican campaign to those who seek reform within constitutional arrangements. This thesis examines the broad spectrum of republicanism in Northern Ireland and considers whether these rival interpretations can all be accommodated under a broad republican umbrella. It examines how dissidents came to reject the Provisional form of republicanism which, at its outset, had itself been perceived as a dissident reading of republican ideology and method. This examination of intra-republican difference has required assessment of Sinn Féin’s evolution from the margins of political existence to becoming mainstream constitutional players and how the compromises associated with these changes have been rejected by republican ‘ultras’. The signing of the Good Friday Agreement in 1998, the decommissioning by the Provisional IRA (PIRA) and the acceptance of policing exemplified how far Sinn Féin had moved since the 1986 split in the movement, the first fracture which contributed to the emergence of what are today know as ‘dissidents’. Amid such changes from Sinn Féin, the party has come to be seen as ‘mainstream’ republicanism, with ‘dissident’ groups often considered in relation to what Sinn Féin, in their modern day form, represent. The term ‘dissident’ is used to refer to those groups, individuals and factions that have dissented from the Sinn Féin ‘brand’ of republicanism. This thesis assesses the various groups operating under the ‘dissident’ republican label. Using in depth interviews and enjoying a level of access to groups not yet evident to others, it has been possible to explore the origins, strategy and goals of the various strands of republicanism evident in Northern Ireland today. Original data from a media analysis has also been utilised to provide an analysis of dissident republican newspapers and their attempts to construct a ‘counter’ narrative to mainstream media portrayals iii In assessing tactics, principles and the balance of political and military elements within the republican tradition, the thesis offers a sceptical critique of notions of a single or ‘true’ form of republicanism, rendering the label ‘dissident’ unsatisfactory. Rather it is a label to collectivise a broad spectrum of republican groups attempting to challenge what is seen as ‘normal’ and the ‘accepted’ status quo. iv Glossary and Abbreviations 32CSM 32 County Sovereignty Movement Political organisation, created in 1997. Linked to the RIRA. Árd Chohairle National executive of a political party Árd Fheis Annual conference CABHAIR A republican prisoner association. Linked to RNU. Translated to ‘assistance’ CCA Criminal Court of Appeal CIRA Continuity IRA Republican paramilitary organisation linked to RSF Cogús A republican prisoner association. Translates to ‘conscience’ CSI Programme for Cohesion, Sharing and Integration Cumann Branch Dáil Éireann Lower house of the Irish parliament DDR Disarmament, Demilitarisation and Reintegration DPP District Policing Partnership DUP Democratic Unionist Party éirígí Socialist Irish republican political party, created in 2006 Garda Siochana Police force of the Irish Republic GFA Good Friday Agreement Also referred to in this thesis as the Agreement. IICD Independent International Commission on Decommissioning IMC Independent Monitoring Commission v INLA Irish National Liberation Army Republican Socialist paramilitary organisation, created in 1974 over split in the Official republican movement. IRA Irish Republican Army IRPWA Irish Republican Prisoner Welfare Association LVF Loyalist Volunteer Force MI5 Military Intelligence Section 5 British internal security services MLA Member of Legislative Assembly MP Member of Parliament NILT Northern Ireland Life and Times NIO Northern Ireland Office NORAID Irish Northern Aid Committee OFMDFM Office of First Minister and Deputy First Minister OIRA Official IRA Republican paramilitary organisation, linked to the Official republican movement. ONH Óglaigh na hÉireann ‘Soldiers of Ireland’ Title claimed by various republican factions. PIRA Provisional IRA Republican paramilitary organisation, created in 1969/70. Linked to Provisional Sinn Féin, fully decommissioned in 2005. Also referred to in this thesis as ‘the IRA’. PSNI Police Service of Northern Ireland Successor police force to RUC, created in 2001. RAAD Republican Action Against Drugs Republican paramilitary organisation operating mainly in the Derry area. Engage in violence against suspected drug dealers and other ‘anti social behaviour’. vi RIRA Real IRA Republican paramilitary organisation formed in 1997 by those unhappy with the direction of the peace process, especially the Mitchell Principles. RNU Republican Network for Unity Irish republican organisation opposed to the direction of the peace process. RUC Royal Ulster Constabulary The former police service, replaced by the PSNI in 2001. RSF Republican Sinn Féin Republican organisation. Split from the Provisional movement in 1986 over the dropping of abstention from Dáil Éireann. SCC Special Criminal Court SDLP Social Democratic and Labour Party Sinn Féin Irish republican political party. Also referred to as the ‘Provisional movement’ to differentiate between RSF and to collectivise the PIRA and Sinn Féin. Taoiseach Irish Prime Minister Teach na Fáilte. A republican prisoner association linked to the IRSP TUAS ‘Tactical Use of Armed Struggle’ UDA Ulster Defence Association UUP Ulster Unionist Party UVF Ulster Volunteer Force vii Tables and figures Table 2.1: ‘Purist’ versus ‘Pragmatist’ conceptions of Irish republicanism. p. 88 Table 6.1: Number of persons and vehicle searches under section 44 of the p. 206 Terrorism Act. Tables 7.1: Sample of newspapers for analysis. p. 234 Table 7.2: Topic areas covered in Sovereign Nation and Saoirse by number of pp. 235-236 articles and total percentage. Table 7.3: Mainstream narrative versus dissident group counter narrative. p. 249 Figure 4.1: The Roots of Irish Republicanism since 1969. p. 131 Figure 6.1: Dissident cycle of resistance. p. 208 Figure 7.1: Dissident newspaper content by theme (%). p. 237 viii Acknowledgements I would firstly like to express my appreciation to all the interviewees in this thesis who took the time to offer their insight and warmly welcomed my enquiries. Without such openness I would have never been able to put such a project together. Throughout the past few years my family have continually offered their support for which I will be eternally indebted.