Workers Power (Ireland)
Encyclopedia
Workers Power is a small Trotskyist political group in Ireland
.
The party was founded as the Irish Workers Group, which developed as a factional grouping in the Socialist Workers' Movement in the 1970s. It was formed as a separate organisation after being expelled from that group in 1976. It affiliated to the League for the Fifth International
(L5I). By the 2000s, it had ceased producing Class Struggle, its publication, instead distributing the publications of the Workers Power group in Britain.
The group was active in several places in Ireland, notably Dublin, Derry
and Galway
, and, amongst others, published a book on James Connolly
. They also wrote extensively on the Irish question
and the Troubles, where they shared the position of Workers Power in Great Britain, giving unconditional support to the Provisional Irish Republican Army
and opposing the Good Friday Agreement. They criticised what they deemed as the nationalist and centrist positions of other groups on the Irish left, such as the League for a Workers Republic
, Socialist Democracy
and the Socialist Workers Movement on this question. Up until this day, they stand for the defence of what they perceive as the forces fighting British imperialism
, such as the Continuity IRA and the Real IRA.
In 2006, most of the Irish supporters of the L5I were expelled along with the Permanent Revolution
group in the UK. As of 2007, some Irish supporters and members of the L5I still maintain a small scale activity in Dublin, some of these from the Swedish group.
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
.
The party was founded as the Irish Workers Group, which developed as a factional grouping in the Socialist Workers' Movement in the 1970s. It was formed as a separate organisation after being expelled from that group in 1976. It affiliated to the League for the Fifth International
League for the Fifth International
The League for the Fifth International is an international grouping of revolutionary Trotskyist organisations around a common programme and perspectives. The group has sections in Europe, South Asia, and North America as well as supporters in the Middle East.-Early years:L5I was founded as the...
(L5I). By the 2000s, it had ceased producing Class Struggle, its publication, instead distributing the publications of the Workers Power group in Britain.
The group was active in several places in Ireland, notably Dublin, Derry
Derry
Derry or Londonderry is the second-biggest city in Northern Ireland and the fourth-biggest city on the island of Ireland. The name Derry is an anglicisation of the Irish name Doire or Doire Cholmcille meaning "oak-wood of Colmcille"...
and Galway
Galway
Galway or City of Galway is a city in County Galway, Republic of Ireland. It is the sixth largest and the fastest-growing city in Ireland. It is also the third largest city within the Republic and the only city in the Province of Connacht. Located on the west coast of Ireland, it sits on the...
, and, amongst others, published a book on James Connolly
James Connolly
James Connolly was an Irish republican and socialist leader. He was born in the Cowgate area of Edinburgh, Scotland, to Irish immigrant parents and spoke with a Scottish accent throughout his life. He left school for working life at the age of 11, but became one of the leading Marxist theorists of...
. They also wrote extensively on the Irish question
Irish question
The Irish Question was a phrase used mainly by members of the British ruling classes from the early 19th century until the 1920s. It was used to describe Irish nationalism and the calls for Irish independence....
and the Troubles, where they shared the position of Workers Power in Great Britain, giving unconditional support to the Provisional Irish Republican Army
Provisional Irish Republican Army
The Provisional Irish Republican Army is an Irish republican paramilitary organisation whose aim was to remove Northern Ireland from the United Kingdom and bring about a socialist republic within a united Ireland by force of arms and political persuasion...
and opposing the Good Friday Agreement. They criticised what they deemed as the nationalist and centrist positions of other groups on the Irish left, such as the League for a Workers Republic
League for a Workers Republic
The League for a Workers' Republic was a Trotskyist organisation in Ireland.- Foundation :It was founded in 1968 by members of the Irish Workers' Group, which was mainly centred on Irish emigrants to Britain and was itself the result of a previous split in the Irish Communist Group between those,...
, Socialist Democracy
Socialist Democracy
Socialist Democracy can refer to any of several political parties. Groups using this name tend to have a connection to the reunified Fourth International, reflecting its distinctive position on socialist democracy :*Socialist Democracy...
and the Socialist Workers Movement on this question. Up until this day, they stand for the defence of what they perceive as the forces fighting British imperialism
Imperialism
Imperialism, as defined by Dictionary of Human Geography, is "the creation and/or maintenance of an unequal economic, cultural, and territorial relationships, usually between states and often in the form of an empire, based on domination and subordination." The imperialism of the last 500 years,...
, such as the Continuity IRA and the Real IRA.
In 2006, most of the Irish supporters of the L5I were expelled along with the Permanent Revolution
Permanent Revolution (UK)
Permanent Revolution is a Trotskyist group formed by people expelled from the League for the Fifth International in 2006. It takes its name from Leon Trotsky's theory of permanent revolution.-History:...
group in the UK. As of 2007, some Irish supporters and members of the L5I still maintain a small scale activity in Dublin, some of these from the Swedish group.