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Ireland's political and cultural magazine
32May 2015
L
ast month’s Village editorial
missed the point in disdaining the
water protests and favouring a
campaign about the (admitted) injus-
tices of NAMA facilitating the return of
the delinquent developers.
The water protests are most impor-
tant because they represent a new form
of citizens’ action and empowerment in
Ireland. The water movement is in the
process of transforming Irish politics
and society. Its significance is that a
large proportion of (extra)‘ordinary’
people, along with critically analysing
the system, are actually engaged in
political resistance and with the politi-
cal system by seeking out political
alternatives.
This contrasts with decades of citizen
passivity and acceptance of a corrupt
political establishment.
It would appear that space for a new
Podemos-type political movement is
emerging. It could be a movement for a
New Republic, that would represent the
desire for citizen-led and democratic
political change. This is the evidence
from research into the views of ,
water protestors recently undertaken
by myself and MA students in the
Department of Geography Maynooth.
A majority of respondents (.%)
stated that they had not participated in
any previous protest.
Respondents felt that the water pro-
tests have been successful because it “is
a genuinely grassroots and local move-
ment and has mobilised every village,
town and city of this country” and “ral-
lied Irish people from all walks of life”.
The protests were motivated by a
range of factors and not just water
charges. People are protesting at the
impacts of austerity (the most cited
reason for protesting), a desire for
complete abolition, and not just reduc-
tion, of water charges, and against the
privatisation of water.
People are also motivated by the
belief that the current, and previous,
government have, through austerity
and the bailout, put the interests of the
banks, Europe, and the bondholders
before the needs of the Irish people.
They feel that working, poor and
middle income people have paid an
unfair burden of austerity.
Respondents identified “corruption”,
“cronyism” and a belief that the “estab-
lishment parties look after a golden
circle of wealthy business people and
corporate elite” as reasons for public
anger.
Respondents sought change in the
way politics is operated in Ireland such
that politicians stop making false
promises and could be held democrati-
cally accountable. They described, for
example, how “our political system is
broken, our politicians and political
parties are owned by corporate elites
who act in their favour. I’m not stand-
ing for it anymore. I want a government
for the people” and, “The Republic has
failed its people. The country needs to
start anew”.
Very significantly, % said they had
voted for the main large parties (FF/FG/
Labour) in but indicated that they
are changing their vote to the opposi-
tion Left parties and independents in
the forthcoming election. .% said
they will vote for People Before Profits/
Anti Austerity Alliance, .% said
they will vote for Left Independents,
.% for Sinn Féin and only .% for
‘Right’ Independents. % of respond-
ents said that they believed the most
effective way of getting change was
through protesting while only % saw
contacting a political representative as
effective.
Despite the strong support for ‘Left’
parties, a large proportion (%) want
to see a new political party formed.
They identified that the issues such a
new party should stand on include anti-
austerity; anti-corruption and
anti-cronyism; and radical political
reform and democracy. They want a
new party to stand for fairness, equal-
ity, social justice, and the right to
housing, health, water, education and
protection of the poor and vulnerable.
These issues, particularly equality, are
the very things Village elsewhere has
editorialised for. It should also stand up
to Europe (particularly on the debt),
and ‘take back’ Irish natural resources
(gas, fisheries etc) ‘for the people of
Ireland’.
It has become clear to ordinary
people that they have to look elsewhere
for new politicians and parties that will
represent and fight for a New Republic.
Three key developments have
emerged with the potential to develop
such an alternative.
The first is the emergence of popular
community struggle, protest, citizen’s
initiatives and self-empowerment. The
second is a new civil society leadership
in smaller trade unions. The third is a
new Left and anti-establishment poli-
tics in the form of Sinn Féin, the radical
Left and independents.
Major questions lie ahead as to
whether some of these forces, together,
can define and build a new political
movement for a New Republic.
This will depend on whether or not
those who are arguing for a pluralist,
community and grassroots politics, can
link together and mutually strengthen
the diverse struggles and campaigns
over water, housing and other issues
while also developing an alternative
political, economic and social vision for
Ireland that can attract a majority into
supporting such a new political
movement.
Perhaps the RightWater union’s
successful May Day initiative holds out
some hope in this regard. •
Water is the issue to galvanise grassroots
including former FF/FG voters against
austerity and for radical change, fairness
and equality. By Rory Hearne
Hot water
NEWS Public Sector
45% said they
had voted
for the main
parties in
2011 but are
changing –
31.7% will
now vote
PBP/AAA;
27.5% Left
Independents;
23.9% Sinn
Féin
“
The Irish water
war, austerity and
the ‘Risen people”
is available at:
maynoothuniversity.
ie/sites/default/files/
assets/document/
TheIrishWaterwar_0.
pdf
