The Long March : The Political Strategy of Sinn Fein, 1981-2007

The Long March examines the recent history and evolving political strategy of Sinn Fin, from the effective birth of the party in 1981 down to the recent Irish General Election. Sinn Fin has undergone a startling transformation in the last two-and-a-half decades. Under the leadership of its two principal figures Gerry Adams and Martin McGuinness the mainstream party of Irish republicanism has changed beyond almost all recognition. It has moved from the margins of political life, on both sides of the Irish border, to a position where it occupies the Deputy First Minister's chair in Northern Ireland and was viewed, until recently, as the coming force in southern Irish politics. In this book, the contours of Sinn Fin's recent evolution are considered, with particular emphasis on the various strategic objectives that the party has set itself. Sinn Fin's attitude to the Northern Irish peace process is considered at length here and the book challenges the 'conventional wisdom' that would juxtapose republican 'politics' and republican 'war' the notion being that, during the 1990s, republicans exchanged the latter for the former and were, therefore, 'tamed' into becoming a 'normal' political party. The central argument here is that such a view rests on a false dichotomy. It has been said that 'war is merely the continuation of politics'; with respect to Sinn Fin, it is argued, the inverse formulation needs also to be considered, with republican politics seen, by republicans themselves, as an extension of the war. In following through this line of argument, this book attempts to consider republicans on their own terms; to take their thoughts and words 'seriously' and to examine their recent history accordingly. Sinn Fein has undergone a startling transformation in the last two-and-a-half decades. Under the leadership of its two principal figures - Gerry Adams and Martin McGuinness - the mainstream party of Irish republicanism has changed beyond almost all recognition. It has moved from the margins of political life, on both sides of the Irish border, to a position where it occupies the Deputy First Minister's chair in Northern Ireland and was viewed, until recently, as the coming force in southern Irish politics. In this book, the contours of Sinn Fein's recent evolution are considered, with particular emphasis on the various strategic objectives that the party has set itself. Sinn Fein's attitude to the Northern Irish peace process is considered at length here and the book challenges the conventional wisdom that would juxtapose republican politics and republican war - the notion being that, during the 1990s, republicans exchanged the latter for the former and were, therefore, tamed into becoming a normal political party. The central argument here is that such a view rests on a false dichotomy. It has been said that war is merely the continuation of politics; with respect to Sinn Fein, it is argued, the inverse formulation needs also to be considered, with republican politics seen, by republicans themselves, as an extension of the war. In following through this line of argument, this book attempts to consider republicans on their own terms; to take their thoughts and words seriously and to examine their recent history accordingly Sinn Féin has undergone a startling transformation in the last two-and-a-half decades. Under the leadership of its two principal figures Gerry Adams and Martin McGuinness the mainstream party of Irish republicanism has changed beyond almost all recognition. It has moved from the margins of political life, on both sides of the Irish border, to a position where it occupies the Deputy First Minister's chair in Northern Ireland and was viewed, until recently, as the coming force in southern Irish politics. In this book, the contours of Sinn Féin's recent evolution are considered, with particular emphasis on the various strategic objectives that the party has set itself. Sinn Féin's attitude to the Northern Irish peace process is considered at length here and the book challenges the'conventional wisdom'that would juxtapose republican'politics'and republican'war'the notion being that, during the 1990s, republicans exchanged the latter for the former and were, therefore,'tamed'into becoming a'normal'political party. The central argument here is that such a view rests on a false dichotomy. It has been said that'war is merely the continuation of politics'; with respect to Sinn Féin, it is argued, the inverse formulation needs also to be considered, with republican politics seen, by republicans themselves, as an extension of the war. In following through this line of argument, this book attempts to consider republicans on their own terms; to take their thoughts and words'seriously'and to examine their recent history accordingly. "Sinn Fein has undergone a startling transformation in the last two-and-a-half decades. Under the leadership of its two principal figures - Gerry Adams and Martin McGuinness - the mainstream party of Irish republicanism has changed beyond almost all recognition. It has moved from the margins of political life, on both sides of the Irish border, to a position where it occupies the Deputy First Minister's chair in Northern Ireland and was viewed, until recently, as the coming force in southern Irish politics." "In this book, the contours of Sinn Fein's recent evolution are considered, with particular emphasis on the various strategic objectives that the party has set itself. Sinn Fein's attitude to the Northern Irish peace process is considered at length here and the 'conventional wisdom' that would juxtapose republican 'politics' and republican 'war' is challenged."--BOOK JACKET Building The Political Party And 'republicanization', 1981-5 -- Pan-nationalism, Peace And The Political Mainstream, 1985-90 -- Towards Negotiation And The 'tactical Use Of Armed Struggle', 1990-7 -- Confronting Unionism, Negotiation And Agreement, 1997-2001 -- Sinn Féin Centre Stage, The Search For Political Growth, 2001-4 -- Reversal, Recovery And Divergence, 2004-7. Martyn Frampton. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 195-247) And Index. Building the political party and 'republicanisation', 1981-1985 Pan-nationalism, peace and the political mainstream, 1985-90 Towards negotiation and the 'tactical use of armed struggle', 1990-97 Confronting unionism, negotiation and agreement, 1997-2001 Sinn Fein centre stage, the search for political growth, 2001-2004 Reversal, recovery and divergence, 2004-2007.