Difference between revisions of "Politics of the Republic of Ireland"

Revision as of 03:27, September 6, 2016

The politics of the Republic of Ireland are unusual in terms of Western European politics, and indeed United States politics also, in that the Irish political spectrum is not divided between liberal and conservative parties. Rather the genesis of the current Irish political structure lies in the Irish Civil War of 1922 - 1923. The war was fought as a result of the Anglo-Irish Treaty, which granted self-rule to 26 of Ireland's 32 counties, with the remaining six (which would become Northern Ireland) staying under British rule.

Development of Modern Irish Politics

The treaty was a divisive issue, and caused a split in the early Sinn Féin party. Those who supported the treaty renamed their branch of the party Cumann na nGaedheal (later to become Fine Gael, and formed the first official Irish government. The anti-treaty side remained 'Sinn Féin', and abstained from the new Dáil in protest until 1926, when under Eamon de Valera they formed the new Fianna Fáil party and entered parliament, winning election in 1932. Those that did not follow de Valera into Fianna Fáil remained outside the parliament, evolving into the Sinn Féin party which still exists today.

Throughout the 20th century and into the 21st, Irish politics have been dominated by Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael. Ideologically speaking, the parties were not very dissimilar - however Irish politics in the first 50 years of the state were tremendously partisan nonetheless. Rather than ideological reasons for supporting one party over the other, voters would support a party based either on their own personal views on the treaty or, and especially in the middle decades of the century, because the chosen party was the one the voter's parents and family had always voted for. This mentality does not exist as much in contemporary Ireland, as to the current younger generation, the memories and attitudes of the civil war are but a paragraph in the history book.

This is not to say that Irish politics are completely devoid of ideology however. Throughout the decades, both Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael, while remaining centrist in outlook, adopted conservative or liberal leanings at different times. Fine Gael in particular was quite liberal under the stewardship of Garret FitzGerald, who served as Taoiseach from 1981 to 1982, and again from late 1982 to 1987. As of 2008, both parties can be considered centre-right.

Other parties also exist, and have existed, in Irish politics - many with standard political ideologies that one would find in other countries. The most significant of these is the Irish Labour Party, which like its UK counterpart, has moved away from traditional socialism since its inception in 1916 to social democracy. It is the third largest party in Ireland, and has served as the junior member of many coalition governments, the most recent being from 1994 to 1997 under Fine Gael Taoiseach John Bruton. As well as Labour, the modern Sinn Féin party, while maintaining a small presence in the Irish parliament and having never entered government, has developed a left-wing ideology in tandem with their omnipresent demand for the unification of Ireland.

In more recent years, the Progressive Democrats (PDs) and the Irish Green Party have played important roles in Irish politics. The PDs, formed in 1985 and in government from 1997 until their disbanding in 2008, espoused an economically conservative ideology, while at the same time professing to be socially liberal. This claim was often called into question by those who observed PD members holding more conservative stances on issues. The Greens are an environmentalist party, and socially liberal, however since entering government with Fianna Fáil in 2007 many of their supporters have accused them of "selling out" their policies simply to be in power.

Irish Political Parties and Ideologies

While Irish politics since independence has been dominated by Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael and Labour, many other parties have had important roles to play throughout the decades. Many of them are no defunct, and many more are insignificant in comparison to the main parties, but here is a list of all parties that have had at least one member elected to the Dáil during the lifetime of the state. Major parties have their own entries.

Fianna Fáil (Soldiers of Destiny)

• Established in 1926 by Eamon de Valera. Fianna Fáil is the legacy of the members of Sinn Féin in 1921 who voted against the Anglo-Irish treaty. In 1926, realising that the Sinn Féin policy of abstentionism was not helping them achieve their goals, de Valera led his supporters to forming the new Fianna Fáil party. First elected in 1932, the party has been the most dominant and electorally-successful party since. Due to its history, the party does not have a clear ideological stance, and for most of its existence has relied on being a populist party, usually keeping to the centre-right of politics, but by no means conservative (or liberal). The party is currently in government since 1997 and is under the leadership of Brian Cowen.

Fine Gael (Clan of the Gael)

• The modern Fine Gael party is the direct descendant of the Cumann na nGaedheal party formed by the supporters of the Anglo-Irish treaty. The Cumann were in power between 1923 and 1932, during which time they helped build an impressive national infrastructure - the quick and successful establishment of a national police force (An Garda Síochána) being hailed as one of their greatest achievements. In 1934 Cumann na nGaedheal merged with the Catholic Centre Party, the Farmers Party and the National Guard to form the Fine Gael party. Although not as electorally successful as Fianna Fáil, the party has always been the second largest in Ireland, and has served successfully in governments in the 1950s, 70s, 80s and 90s. Like Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael remain mostly centrist on issues, with occasional veers to the centre-left or centre-right depending on the political climate of the time or the personal ideology of the party leader. The party is currently the Main Opposition in parliament, under the leadership of Enda Kenny. It is touted to possibly win the next general election, due to FF's poor showings in polls and the gains Fine Gael made in the last election.

• Labour Party

• Sinn Féin (Ourselves)

• Progressive Democrats

• Green Party

• Clann na Poblachta (The Republican Party)

• Clann na Talhum (Farmers Party)

• Centre Party

• Socialist Party

• Independents