THE IRISH revolutionary socialist organisation Peoples Democracy has joined the Fourth International. Belfast councillor John McAnulty told PD's Dublin conference on 22 November.
in the best position to strengthen the forces of revolutionary Marxism in Ireland, in the internationalist tradition of James Connolly.
Peoples Democracy became a household name during the civil rights struggles the vorm or ireland. in later years it evolved towards revolutionary Marxism and fused with the Movement Republic (trish section of Socialist Fourth International) in 1978.
In the ast two vears Peoples Democracy has played a TCHE wilding the anti H Block campaign. It raised the H Block issue in last May's local government elections In Bellast and two of is members clected WEC councillors.
Peoples Democracy's internationalist outlook was evident throughout its conterence. The evening before conference it held a rally on Poland with international speakers. And its political perspectives were clearly drawn from an international context.
Growth the reporter for the National Committee explained that the situation in Ireland was both an example of imperialism's offensive against working people throughout the world as well as its inability to inflict serious defeats.
Indeed, while the huge growth the imperialist movement in struggle, elsewhere the working class had itself taken the offensive: as in the revolutions in Central America, the Polish events, and the election of left governments in France and Greece.
The conference took The Bobby Sands funeral procession the streets of Ireland.
Socialist Challenge 3 December 1981 *Joining the Fourth International will put us and place us place In ine context not only ot an political instabilit throughout following the H Block protests over the last year.
Unstable This instability reflected in the precarious the Gacl/Labour in the sout of Ireland, which survives on the support of the two THE COUNCI - the masses return to MPs, Kemmy Sherlock. The government could fall from office at The crisis in the North was highlighted by discussion on lan Paisley's proposed general strike scheduled for the day after PD's conference The conference charac tised the Anglo-Irish coun initiative ningdale without reforms' (Sunningdale was the 1974 so-called "power-sharing' agreement). While dressed up as a move towards Irish unity its only real purpose is to co-ordinate sion against the nationalist community.
As the 1974 Unionist general strike week's events SUNCO OTTLISTE still has the power to veer veto Britain will confront head-on the Attack on Burntollet marchers in 1969 - the bloody birth of Peoples Democracy. political and military forces of Unionism remains to oe such The Anglo-Irish talks indicate that Britain looking to the Southern government ally. As the South becomes increasingly integrated into European imperialism through its membership of EEC, it seems a more reliable ally for Britain in defeating the imperialist movement.
Undoubtedly Britain is becoming desperate ina a solution in Ireland and to share the burden of delending imperialism's interests there The H Block campaign demonstrated that despi small siZe Peoples Democracy has a major influence within the anti-imperialist movement. Irish premier FitzGerald -could be ousted at any time.
the broad-based Coalisland anti-repression conference in 1977 to the decision contest the local clections last May its example has been rapidly followed the imperialist movement.
This conference showmovement around:
laboration *Defence of democratic rights *For to win youth to PD and against austerity. ed that PD is able to res pond to the new political stage in Ireland and that it will continue to lead the To become the Irish section of the Fourth To fight for the unity of the anti-imperialist "Brits out of Ireland, against London-Dublin col*Against the 'Better Life for All' campaign and trade union collaboration with imperialism La fightback against job loss and To argue for an anti-imperialist united front to fight the bourgeois parties in the elections.
To make a major orientation towards youth, To step up activity in the trades unions to draw the links between the fight for national unity To launch a major campaign to retain the sugar beet plant in Tuam. This was established in the 1950s to bring jobs to a depressed area. It is threatened with closure by the government who claim the plant is not 'economically viable'. The plant workers and local farmers who grow the beet have united to campaign to save their livelihood.
way in the national strug gle. The Fourth International has won a valuable recruit
----- pull-quotes -----
Decisions of PD conference