Hite | Review

‘—SSr F o To avoid. any accusation of bias in recommending all our readers to purchase Bob Purdie's pamphlet ‘Ireland Unfree” we are publishing a completely independent review of it, which appeared originally in the Bristal University Socialist Society Magazine “Offensive” Vol. 6, No.3.

Bob Purdie’s pamphlet is surprisingly good and very well written. Despite an atrocious title (what does it mean and who was it written for?+ and a factual mistake on page 2, it is the best work | have seen on Ireland. It starts with an account of the civil rights movement and a short history of Ireland from the plantation of Ulster. He deals in greater detail with the events of 191622, Ireland’s bourgeois democratic revolution, which was then aborted is now being completed. In other words, the struggie is about the continued existence of, not the reform of, the Orange state.

His best chapters, containing much material that is original, deal-with the Irish Bourgeois Parties, the Political Left and Republicanism. His section on the Alliance Party, which we will undoubtedly be hearing more of as British imperialism hunts around for “moderates” who are willing to accept Stormont, is brief but worth quoting. “These groups consist of a small section of the Protestant and Catholic middle class, who would like to see a non-sectarian state, in which they could live undisturbed. This is a dream becalse 1) they are part of a social layer which is too small, and which has such slender historical roots that it cannot balance between the major forces in Six County society, and 2) it wants to create this paradise within the borders of Northern Ireland. If the Prime Minister of N. Ireland, backed by all the power of British Imperialism could not do it, there is little chance of the middle class doing it.”

The section on the Irish Left contains good analysis of the PD and the Irish Communist Organisation. His claim that “We are confident that when the history of Irish Trotskyism is written, it will record that the Irish section of the Fourth International played the key role in concerting the Republican/Marxist leadership of the Irish Revolution” is the only lapse into wishful thinking in the whole pamphlet. (I do not mean to imply cialism No.1 2). them. not just the North.

Marxists, to study it.

Published by Irish Solidarity Campaign, 22 Duncan Terrace, London N.1. that he will be proved wrong, but merely that it is absurd to claim it as a scientific prediction). The chapter on ‘“‘Republicanism”’ is the first scientific account of its nature that I have seen. It is all the more welcome coming from the IMG, considering their tendency to romanticize the IRA in the “Red Mole’’, Purdie has produced a very clear and cool assessment of the two IRAs and does much to shatter many of the illusions propagated by the Guardian and the British Left (including the CPGB) about the differences between the Officials and the Provos.

The final chapter “The coming Irish Revolution” applies the theory of Permanent Revolution to the Irish situation and compares it with Russia, where the theory originated. (I’m glad to see the 1.S.’s Lrish offspring, the SWM, has accepted this analysis of the lrish Struggle, cf. the latest edition of “The Worker”. Also for an alternative view, an interesting article by T. Cliff, “Deflected Permanent Revolution” in International SoHis assessment of the Protestant workers is personally difficult to accept but I feel nevertheless that it is a realistic one. He attacks the view that the Protestants are a separate nation and realises that, ‘tnone of the formulas which have been tried have succeded in denting the counter-revolutionary consciousness of the Protestant workers, and other proposed strategies have major flaws in “To fight the Irish Revolution in the face of the hostility of these workers would be terrible and costly, but it may be necessary; it could be weigh ted against the implications of allowing the Six Counties to go on for another 50 years”. He sees correctly that any attempt to smash the Orange state will require the help of the Southern working class. Senarios for the future must consider the whole of Ireland as the political arena, To conclude then. [ haven't had the time nor the space to give this work the consideration it requires. A much more critical, and thorough, assessment, at a higher level, is required. The pamphlet is excellent, original, well written, and lacking in any temptation at sectarian sniping. | recommend any socialists, who consider themselves to be AUSTEN MORGAN _ These arrests were the result of eke DO as a = te in many ways to that of the British troops in Derry,—to intimidate and deter people from coming out in support of the Irish ae?

It is necessary now to show very clearly that the State will fail in this aim, that it cannot prevent the growth of a solidarity movement here, in the imperialist heartland. But it will only fail if we can show ourselves capable of defending those who come out on such demonstrations, and ensuring that they suffer the minimum disruption to their lives as a result of the intimidatory actions of the State. The Irish Solidarity Defence Fund has been set up for this purpose, to help offset the considerable costs which are being incurred by those appearing in the courts as a result of those demonstrations. We appeal to all those who support the right to demonstrate in support of the Irish struggle to give generously to this fund; the alternative is likely success for the State in its attempt to intimidate those demonstratjng, and thus prevent the growth of a significant Irish solidarity movement in this country.

Postal Orders and Cheques should be made out to the ‘Irish Solidarity Defence Fund’ and sent c/o 37 Gordon Mansions, Torrington Place, London W.C.]. All contributions will be acknowledged.

IRISH SOLIDARITY CONFERENCE BUXTON HALL, RUSKIN COLLEGE, WALTON STREET, OXFORD.

ISC is holding its second conference in Oxford on the weekend of April 29-30. The conference is open to all who support the four demands of the ISC, though not necessarily its analysis. For details, contact:Gus Fagin 116, Summertown House, Banbury Road,Oxford.

Tel.0865-57883.

Join the IRISH SOLIDARITY CAMPAIGN For further details contact:

ISC, 22 DUNCAN TERRACE, LONDON N.1.