Some Basic Problems of the Contemporary Situation

Abstract

Two contradictions have been advanced by leftist commentators as pivotal in the articulation of the current political struggle in Northern Ireland. Some have argued the centrality of the contradiction between the 'forces of the establishment' (the British state, the Dublin government, Official Unionism, etc.) on the one hand and 'anti-establishment forces' (IRA, UDA, UVF, etc.) on the other. Others (particularly Trotskyists), have alternatively argued the centrality of the contradiction between the British state and the Provisional IRA. This question is absolutely critical: it is the key to the identification of progressive and reactionary forces and of the strategies and tactics to be adopted in relation to them. It is upon this logic, for example, that commentators of the former school have advocated independent Ulsterism and those of the latter unconditional and absolute British withdrawal.