Irish Reunification

Irish Reunification is a term used to describe potential future secession of Northern Ireland from the United Kingdom to the Republic of Ireland, as advocated by Republicans and opposed by Unionists.

Overview

Irish Reunification is the official policy of two of Northern Ireland's major political parties, Sinn Féin and the Social Democratic and Labour Party, as well as the smaller Irish Republican Socialist Party, Republican Sinn Féin, the Workers Party, and the 32 County Sovereignty Movement. Several paramilitary groups also seek reunification, including the Provisional Irish Republican Army, the Irish National Liberation Army, the Continuity Irish Republican Army, and the Real Irish Republican Army. Each group differs on how reunification will be achieved, and how a united Ireland will function.

Opposition to reunification comes from Unionist political parties in Northern Ireland, particularly the Ulster Unionist Party (UUP) and the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP)

Support for Reunification

Sinn Féin

Sinn Féin is currently the largest pro-reunification party in the Northern Ireland Assembly. It believes reunification can be achieved through electoral means, but in the past it promoted a policy of political and violent intervention through the Provisional Irish Republican Army (a paramilitary group with links to Sinn Féin). They wish to reunite Ireland through progressive integration of institutions, ultimately resulting in a referendum on reunification. After reunification, Sinn Féin wishes to amend the Irish constitution to protect minorities (including the Protestant/Ulster Scots communities).

Social Democratic and Labour Party

The SDLP describes itself as 100% for a United Ireland. They believe that reunification should be accomplished through electoral means only. This means that they would support a United Ireland only if a majority of both nations' people voted for reunification in a referendum. In a United Ireland, the SDLP would support the continuation of the Northern Ireland Assembly and the Good Friday Agreement.

Irish Republican Socialist Party

The IRSP works towards attaining a united socialist Irish state. The IRSP is one half of the Irish Republican Socialist Movement, the other half is the paramilitary organization known as the INLA (currently observing a ceasefire). The IRSP is opposed to the Good Friday Agreement, and will settle for nothing less than total reunification.

Republican Sinn Féin

Republican Sinn Féin does not believe that the Irish or the Northern Irish governments are legitimate. Therefore, it abstains from elections in both parts of the island. It believes that Ireland should be a unified nation made up of four provinces (Connacht, Leinster, Munster, and Ulster), with its capital in Athlone.

This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from Wikipedia article. Browse Wikipedia for more information.