Manchester University Press
4 The two traditions
Abstract
Within a month of the Sunningdale Agreement's demise, the Social Democratic and Labour Party (SDLP) released a policy statement which made clear that there would be no departure from the party's essential political programme. The post-Sunningdale period saw the SDLP hold to its immediate political aims; the party was still convinced of the essential rectitude of its programme. The SDLP appeared to confirm Ian McAllister's opinion that the party was trying to demonstrate an open-mindedness – a willingness to consider any agreement which allowed some form of power-sharing and an Irish dimension. It is noted that John Hume had reverted to the revisionist nationalism of his early political career. The SDLP called upon the British government to assume proper responsibility for Northern Ireland, to take decisive political action to bring about a just settlement and to show that it was prepared to face down the unionist veto over the implementation of such a settlement.
Abstract
Within a month of the Sunningdale Agreement's demise, the Social Democratic and Labour Party (SDLP) released a policy statement which made clear that there would be no departure from the party's essential political programme. The post-Sunningdale period saw the SDLP hold to its immediate political aims; the party was still convinced of the essential rectitude of its programme. The SDLP appeared to confirm Ian McAllister's opinion that the party was trying to demonstrate an open-mindedness – a willingness to consider any agreement which allowed some form of power-sharing and an Irish dimension. It is noted that John Hume had reverted to the revisionist nationalism of his early political career. The SDLP called upon the British government to assume proper responsibility for Northern Ireland, to take decisive political action to bring about a just settlement and to show that it was prepared to face down the unionist veto over the implementation of such a settlement.
Chapters in this book
- Front matter i
- Dedication v
- Contents vii
- Acknowledgements ix
- Note on terminology xi
- List of abbreviations xiii
- Preface xv
- Introduction 1
- 1 You can’t eat a flag 7
- 2 A united Ireland or nothing 19
- 3 Dublin is just a Sunningdale away 39
- 4 The two traditions 65
- 5 An agreed Ireland 81
- 6 Internationalising the conflict 105
- 7 The totality of relationships 115
- 8 No selfish strategic or economic interest 137
- 9 Two balls of roasted snow 151
- 10 Sunningdale for slow learners 175
- 11 A new Ireland in a new Europe 193
- Conclusions 213
- Bibliography 239
- Index 251
Chapters in this book
- Front matter i
- Dedication v
- Contents vii
- Acknowledgements ix
- Note on terminology xi
- List of abbreviations xiii
- Preface xv
- Introduction 1
- 1 You can’t eat a flag 7
- 2 A united Ireland or nothing 19
- 3 Dublin is just a Sunningdale away 39
- 4 The two traditions 65
- 5 An agreed Ireland 81
- 6 Internationalising the conflict 105
- 7 The totality of relationships 115
- 8 No selfish strategic or economic interest 137
- 9 Two balls of roasted snow 151
- 10 Sunningdale for slow learners 175
- 11 A new Ireland in a new Europe 193
- Conclusions 213
- Bibliography 239
- Index 251
