This is an important book which recounts the history and development of a party that played a significant role in the events that led to the present political arrangements in Northern Ireland and a party that seriously challenged the irredentist political ideology that existed in the south. The Lost Revolution tells the story of the Workers Party through detailed interviews and a host of other source material. It recounts the development from a guerrilla movement fighting a campaign along the border to a serious socialist party with seven TDs in parliament .The book goes on to chart its subsequent decline. The story is told warts and all. The relationship between the Workers Party in its various manifestations –Sinn Féin/ Sinn Féin the Workers Party/Republican Clubs- and the Official IRA is fully investigated.
The history of the last forty years has largely been written from the point of view of those regarded as victors and significant contributions from others have been written out. On the Nationalist side the view is promulgated that the Provisional IRA campaign was an inevitable and justifiable outcome of earlier Civil Rights agitation and that one led inexorably to the other. This book helps to dismantle that distorted view of historical events. It describes the growth of the Civil Rights movement and the fundamental role played by radical individuals who were members of the Republican Clubs or official Sinn Féin. The book explains that as time went on the leadership of the WP and the Official IRA had very real concerns about the heightening of sectarianism and the threat of civil war and it also describes efforts to develop class unity within an unfavourable environment.
The book highlights the tensions that existed within the official movement. There were those who believed that a revolutionary situation could only be brought about by achieving a series of goals: equality, then national freedom, then social freedom and eventually socialism. Supporters of this position believed in overcoming sectarianism and uniting the Protestant and Catholic working class and included Cathal Goulding and Thomas Mac Giolla. Others like Seamus Costello believed in direct confrontation with British imperialism. The difference in strategy eventually led to a split and to Costello's murder. This event, although denied at the time, is attributed in the book to the Official IRA.
The book explains how the policies of the WP attracted support from many young activists and idealists but also illustrates how loftier ideals were frequently subverted by Official IRA actions or "special activities" on the ground. A chapter is devoted to such pursuits which included counterfeiting and tax-exemption schemes on building sites. These actions were routinely denied leading to charges of hypocrisy. As one interviewee Paddy Woodorth states "It is one thing to say we did this, we won't do it anymore and we don't think that the Provos should either. People can understand and respect it. It is another altogether to come on like a bunch of choirboys, when the dogs in the street know the WPs history ....that pisses the hell out of people and they're right."
The political role of what became known euphemistically as Group B is examined and how it was involved in decision making within the Workers Party. The notion that you could have a party within a party was justified by reference to concepts such as democratic centralism and the Leninist revolutionary party. However the contradictions that this created were to lead to a further split and the eventual formation of Democratic Left.
From the mid 1970's the WP led a campaign for the nationalization of the banks and the party played a leading role in a very successful campaign against tax avoidance "Come On the Tax Payers" which succeeded in bringing upwards of 150,000 protesters on to the streets of Dublin. It cannot be lost on many existing and ex-members of the party that similar demands are being made today by workers across Europe. In an equally prescient manner the party in the north demanded peace underwritten by a Bill of Rights. This caused former Provisional prisoner Anthony McIntyre to comment, "the Officials must be sitting wryly observing that they ultimately came out on top...They beat us to it- and started the peace process first".
The book provides a huge amount of source material including full access to the Worker's Party archive. Whilst there is empathy for the ideals of the party the story is told truthfully and in detail. That truth can sometimes be painful for those of us who were involved. Nevertheless there is no attempt in the book to condemn or sneer. It is written in a style that is both readable and enjoyable. The book doesn't draw any conclusion. Ultimately it is up to the reader to judge why the "revolution" was lost.
August 15, 2010
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This article appeared in the Month 2010 edition of Fortnight.
