Irish Socialist Network
Irish Socialist Network | |
|---|---|
| Founded | 2001 |
| Ideology | Socialism Marxism Anti-Leninism |
| Colours | Blue, white |
| Website | |
| irishsocialist.net | |
The Irish Socialist Network (ISN) is a democratic socialist organisation formed in 2001. It is a campaigning organisation which works to "fight for the rights of ordinary people and to help build a socialist Ireland".[1] It is based in Belfast and Dublin. Politically, the ISN locates itself within the Marxist tradition, but it rejects both Leninism and Trotskyism, partly because of its opposition to democratic centralist organisational structures and to the concept of the vanguard party, which it deems elitist. Most of the founding members were former members of the Workers' Party, some being involved in the Official Republican Movement split in the late 1990s.[2]
The ISN is organised in both the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland. In July 2007, it had three branches: Dublin Central, Dublin North-West and Belfast. It has produced a bi-monthly free paper called Resistance, the first issue of which was published in July/August 2007. The ISN's Dublin North-West branch also produces the Finglas People, a freesheet that is distributed in the Finglas area.
Campaigning activity[edit]
The ISN has been involved in several community campaigns, including those against a poll tax-like refuse collection charge, commonly known as the 'bin tax', in the Republic of Ireland and a similar water charge in Northern Ireland.[citation needed]
In autumn 2003, members John O'Neill, Colm Breathnach and Bernadette Hughes were sent to Mountjoy Prison for two weeks for refusing to abide by a High Court injunction relating to the blockading of bin lorries. This was part of the Anti-Bin Tax Campaign. People from other groups, and non-aligned activists, also went to prison for varying amounts of time for similar reasons.[citation needed]
The ISN was also involved in the movement against the wars in Iraq, Afghanistan, and the occupation of Palestine. It disaffiliated from the Irish Anti-War Movement in 2004,[3] and subsequently joined Anti-War Ireland.[citation needed]
The ISN held its first annual conference in June 2005.[4]
In summer 2003, the Irish Socialist Network organised discussions among various small tendencies on the left about having a united front.[5]
The ISN has also been involved in campaigns against fascism, racism, low pay exploitation and religious sectarianism.[citation needed] The group also advocates environmentalism and supports the rights of workers, women, ethnic minorities and homosexuals. The ISN was also part of a leftist alliance that opposed the Lisbon Treaty in 2008.[6]
In 2010, the ISN participated in the One Per Cent Network[7] along with other socialist groups such as éirígí, Seomra Spraoi and the Workers Solidarity Movement which campaigned against the cut backs brought in by the Irish Government due to the recession.[citation needed]
Electoral activity[edit]
The Irish Socialist Network ran John O'Neill as a candidate in the 2004 local elections (Finglas area).[8] He also stood unsuccessfully in the 2007 general election in the Dublin North-West constituency.[9][10][11] O'Neill ran unsuccessfully in the Finglas electoral area in the 2009 local elections.
The Irish Socialist Network announced that it would not stand candidates in the 2011 General Election due to fiscal considerations. In the same statement they declare an intention to run candidates in the forthcoming local elections in Ireland North and South.[12][needs update]
Pamphlets[edit]
The ISN has previously published a number of pamphlets, including:[citation needed]
- The Ideas of Karl Marx : A Beginner's Guide. Aindrias O'Cathasaigh, Irish Socialist Network, 2003.
- Parting Company : Ending Social Partnership. Irish Socialist Network, 2003.
- After the Troubles: Republicanism, Socialism & Partition. Tommy McKearney, Colm Breathnach, Ed Walsh. Irish Socialist Network, 2009.
- Neo-Liberalism in Crisis: What Comes Next?. Irish Socialist Network, 2009.
- South Africa: the New Apartheid. Ed Walsh. Irish Socialist Network, 2009.
- A Force for Progress? 5 Myths about the European Union. Irish Socialist Network, 2009.
References[edit]
- ↑ "About". irishsocialist.net. Irish Socialist Network. Archived from the original on 22 February 2011.
- ↑ The Lost Revolution: The Story of the Official IRA and the Workers' Party, Brian Hanley and Scott Millar, ISBN 1-84488-120-2 Search this book on
.
- ↑ ISN Disaffiliates from IAWM by Paul Moloney
- ↑ Report On The First Annual Conference Of The Irish Socialist Network by Paul Moloney – ISN Secretary
- ↑ Chapter 3: The fight for a new workers party and unity on the left – Left unity in Ireland by Andrew Johnson 3 May 2005
- ↑ Campaigners call for Lisbon 'No' vote
- ↑ One Percent Network - Official Website Archived 27 December 2010 at the Wayback Machine
- ↑ John O'Neill Election History www.electionsireland.org
- ↑ "Labour condoms, the Charlton years and Alan Shatter's 'X-Factor'". rte.ie. 30 January 2014. Retrieved 19 September 2023.
a leaflet from the Irish Socialist Network for the 2007 general election campaign in Dublin North West [..] [by] O'Neill offered a mock political pizza menu [..] He was not elected
- ↑ Q & A with Dublin North–West Irish Socialist Network candidate John O'Neill [www.village.ie] Archived 23 November 2007 at the Wayback Machine
- ↑ "Candidates by Party - 2007 General Election - Irish Socialist Network". electionsireland.org. Retrieved 19 September 2023.
- ↑ General Election 2011 Statement from the Irish Socialist Network The Cedar Lounge Revolution, 14 February 2011[better source needed]
External links[edit]
- National Library of Ireland - Holdings - Resistance: Irish Socialist Network
- Official website - irishsocialist.net (archived 2016)
This article "Irish Socialist Network" is from Wikipedia. The list of its authors can be seen in its historical and/or the page Edithistory:Irish Socialist Network. Articles copied from Draft Namespace on Wikipedia could be seen on the Draft Namespace of Wikipedia and not main one.
