The history of the Stormont Parliament is no different than any of the 'rich men's' parliaments around the Western world.
However, Stormont does have significance and resonance, for the people i Éireann, North and South.
It's history began at the partitioning of the island into 26 counties, within the English imperialist control; and the 6 counties under English occupation and control. That occupation of the 6 North Eastern counties continues to this day.
Stormont was established in 1921 as a central part of the 1922 pacification process, driven by capitalist and imperialist interests, North and South. It was paid for by the English, Alba agus Cymru Exchequer.
It was then, reshaped again, as a vital part of the 1998 pacification process by the exact same English, American and EU interests. The ruling class i Baile Ailt Cliath had their hand in there too.
Stormont has been a 'crisis parliament ' since 1921. James Craig once said 'That is my whole object in carrying on a Protestant government for a Protestant people'. And it has been in increasing crises since it's reshaping in 1998, when it was also given a new name: The Northern Ireland Assembly. A political rebranding tactic.
We have to start our thinking from the position of: 'why was Stormont established, in the first place' and 'who did and does it benefit'? The Stormont Parliament benefits British interests, full stop.
First they used an all Unionist parliament and when that failed in the 1970's, they re-invented it in 1998. This time they were able to coerce and co-opt nationalists into an impossible alliance with Unionism. It's a forced and a sectarian set up. It was designed to fail. And Unionists, all shades and parts, want it to fail. They want it to fail because they can no longer be the dominant power that they once were. And while they don't trust the English fully, they have even fewer options. So, they would rather see 'direct rule' by Westminster, than see the Nationalists being in any small bit of political control. And they know too, that the English have neither 'friends' or 'enemies'; they only have interests.
But, the 'Stormont Project' would never even have been attempted but for the thirty years of resistance, from the 1970's. It must be seen as a safe, 'tactical reform' by the English, that protects their interests first and foremost. And always remember too, that the ruling class i Baile Ailt Cliath are not keen on the notion of the six counties becoming part of their we 'private fiefdom' either; despite their public utterances.
The present Stormont Parliament is set up around 'Orange and Green' religious and political sectarian lines. The main protagonists are Sinn Fein and the DUP. The rest, SDLP, Alliance, UUP, TUV, PBP and independents, are really only tiny bit players. They are only the 'window dressing of inclusiveness'. In fact, though, All of them are only 'bit players' in the bigger plans of the English, American and EU imperialism and capitalism.
Stormont has no 'financial horse power', so, in turn it has no real political power either. Thirty years, up til today, have shown that. Just look at housing, health, education and infrastructure; to begin with. Is the constitutional issue any closer to resolution? Are the proposed English controlled routes to an expression of support or "referendum" for a 32 County Ireland real ? Is Baile Ailt Cliath even, genuinely interested? Or will they take their usual pro-imperialist line?
In Sinn Fein, at least there appears to be a degree of concern that thirty years on from the 1998 pacification process, little has changed, for the poor and working poor. The 'politics of the rich' have proved to be just that: 'the politics of and for the rich'. The struggle for Socialist Republicans has not got any easier either. And until we have a people powered democracy building for a 32 County Socialist Republic, then we have achieved nothing.
That the English controlled, Stormont pacification process has failed, is clear. Even Sinn Fein have belatedly begun to worry. Maybe the polling stats showing their support is dwindling, has sounded the alarm. Then there is the elections in May next year? That's hardly a factor . . . surely not?
It is worth noting that 40% of the people, at least, won't even bother to vote. What does that say? Have they, long ago, wised up to the sectarian 'merry-go-round' at Stormont and indeed the other Parliaments of the rich as well? Do they believe that that only a decentralised democracy built from the bottom up, by the people themselves, beginning in their local communities, is the only solution? Three hundred years of Stormont like parliaments have failed the majority, the working class, so a new system is needed. Democracy, Socialism and people power.
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| Micheál Choilm Mac Giolla Easbuig is an independent councillor on Donegal County Council. |
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