From 1926 onward, Sinn Fein, which had been instrumental in the revolutionary period of 1919-23, faded into oblivion. This book unravels a chapter of history that has not been dealt with in detail until now, although the operation of the party raises fundamental questions on issues such as democracy and the role of history in the construction of a national narrative. Through a close analysis of newspaper reports, fortnightly Standing committee minutes, and interviews carried out by the author, it looks at the manner in which the party operated and put itself forward as the guardian of Republicanism in Ireland. The book offers a valuable insight into the meaning of Republicanism, and its narrative represents an integral part of the political and social fabric of contemporary Irish society, which will be of relevance to academics and to all readers with an interest in Irish republicanism. -- .

Sinn Fein is a unique political party, not only within Irish politics, but also within the wider European context. It boasts a long revolutionary tradition, an historical affiliation with an armed group, a social radicalism and a vision of society that has inspired other parties and movements throughout the world. As a consequence of Sinn Fein's connection with the IRA, the military side of the republican movement has tended to overshadow the political, both in terms of its internal operation and strategic choices and in terms of the attention that it has attracted from scholars, writers and journalists. However, since the 1998 Good Friday Agreement, Sinn Fein has experienced substantial growth, in terms of electoral results and party support, both in Northern Ireland and in the Republic of Ireland. This book assesses the importance and relevance of Sinn Fein within the changing configurations of Irish politics, studying it as a political party on both sides of the Irish border. It investigates whether Sinn Fein can sustain the progress made over the last decade, retain its identity as the voice of radical republicanism, and ultimately, whether its vision of a united Ireland can pr

The February 2020 general election in the Republic of Ireland sent shockwaves through the country's political system. Sinn Fein, ahead of all other parties in terms of first preference votes, secured its place as a potential coalition partner, a role it has been playing in Northern Ireland since the start of the century. This result not only disrupted the two-party system, it also questioned a narrative that had cast Sinn Fein as an outlier in the political mainstream. However, the prospect of this all-Ireland, radical left and former Provisional IRA associate being in government raises many questions: what does the success of this all-Ireland party say about the prospect of reunification? Can a party over which the shadow of paramilitaries still lingers be fully trusted? And are the radical changes that the party advocates in areas such as housing, public health and taxation a compelling alternative? These are the questions that this book sets out to address. -- .

The February 2020 general election in the Republic of Ireland sent shockwaves through the country's political system. Sinn Fein, ahead of all other parties in terms of first preference votes, secured its place as a potential coalition partner, a role it has been playing in Northern Ireland since the start of the century. This result not only disrupted the two-party system, it also questioned a narrative that had cast Sinn Fein as an outlier in the political mainstream. However, the prospect of this all-Ireland, radical left and former Provisional IRA associate being in government raises many questions: what does the success of this all-Ireland party say about the prospect of reunification? Can a party over which the shadow of paramilitaries still lingers be fully trusted? And are the radical changes that the party advocates in areas such as housing, public health and taxation a compelling alternative? These are the questions that this book sets out to address. -- .

From 1926 onward, Sinn Fein, which had been instrumental in the revolutionary period of 1919-23, faded into oblivion. This book unravels a chapter of history that has not been dealt with in detail until now, although the operation of the party raises fundamental questions on issues such as democracy and the role of history in the construction of a national narrative. Through a close analysis of newspaper reports, fortnightly Standing committee minutes, and interviews carried out by the author, it looks at the manner in which the party operated and put itself forward as the guardian of Republicanism in Ireland. The book offers a valuable insight into the meaning of Republicanism, and its narrative represents an integral part of the political and social fabric of contemporary Irish society, which will be of relevance to academics and to all readers with an interest in Irish republicanism. -- .

Sinn Fein is a unique political party, not only within Irish politics, but also within the wider European context. It boasts a long revolutionary tradition, an historical affiliation with an armed group, a social radicalism and a vision of society that has inspired other parties and movements throughout the world. As a consequence of Sinn Fein's connection with the IRA, the military side of the republican movement has tended to overshadow the political, both in terms of its internal operation and strategic choices and in terms of the attention that it has attracted from scholars, writers and journalists. However, since the 1998 Good Friday Agreement, Sinn Fein has experienced substantial growth, in terms of electoral results and party support, both in Northern Ireland and in the Republic of Ireland. This book assesses the importance and relevance of Sinn Fein within the changing configurations of Irish politics, studying it as a political party on both sides of the Irish border. It investigates whether Sinn Fein can sustain the progress made over the last decade, retain its identity as the voice of radical republicanism, and ultimately, whether its vision of a united Ireland can pr