Current armed republicanism

This chapter examines the heterogeneous range of views within radical republicanism on armed struggle in present conditions, ranging from outright support to condemnation. The chapter details unprecedented interviews with prominent ‘dissident’ republicans, including individuals who were formerly active in the Provisional Movement (some at a senior operational level). Interviewees include individuals (mainly independents) who justify the Provisional IRA campaign but condemn the current campaign by groups such as the Continuity IRA, the REAL IRA, the New IRA and Óglaigh na hÉireann. This chapter locates the current campaign within the long trajectory of republican armed struggle and highlights the reoccurrence of questions around the utility and morality of armed struggle. The chapter examines the current campaign in the context of Just War Theory and analyses where mandate and legitimacy come from, in the absence of popular support. This chapter presents the views of a member of the leadership of the 32CSM, as well as a spokesperson for the Continuity IRA, regarding what would be sufficient to produce a ceasefire and what constitutes a legitimate target. The chapter presents the views of prominent ‘dissidents’ on whether there should be any republican prisoners at present and details interviews with current prisoners in Maghaberry.

Context (archaeology) · Legitimacy · Mandate · Morality · Political science · Politics · Sociology · History · Law · Torture, Ethics, and Law · War, Ethics, and Justification