Campaigns // Imperialists out of Ireland!!

“We must bear in mind that imperialism is a world system, the last stage of capitalism - and it must be defeated in a world confrontation. The strategic end of this struggle should be the destruction of imperialism”

~ Ernesto Che Guevara

In the 21st century we live in an Imperial age

Imperialism, the policy of one country extending control over another, has blighted humanity for millennia.  Countless millions of lives have been lost through war, famine and poverty caused as a direct consequence of such policies.  It is this, the real and devastating human cost of imperialism, which motivates éirígí in its opposition to imperialism, in all of its forms.

In times past the ‘imperial powers’ were unashamed in their desire to expand their empires, with invasion and occupation the favoured means.  Today’s imperialists are more deceitful in their ambition, regularly denying any selfish interest in their programmes of domination and exploitation.

The means deployed too are also more subtle.  Political and economic levers are now favoured over military.  The powers of banks and loans, of trade and boycott, have proved as effective as tanks and fighter jets, although they too are still be used where required.

Despite the change in tactics the objective of imperialism remains unchanged – political and economic domination and the consequent security of supply of natural resources, of cheap labour and of expanding markets.

The fight against imperialism is, by its very nature, internationalist.  It is only by building world-wide opposition to imperialism that it can be defeated.  This opposition will need to incorporate not only those countries and peoples that have been the direct victims of imperialism but also those individuals and movements from within the ‘imperialist’ countries who disagree with the policies of their governments.

In the Irish context imperialism can be challenged on a number of fronts:

• Britain's ongoing occupation of the six counties
• The use of Shannon and other Irish airports by the US military
• The supply by Irish, or Irish-based companies of materials used in the prosecution of imperial wars
• The use of Irish troops in the European Rapid Reaction Force.

Click on the links below to find out more about imperialism  and éirígí's campaigns to oppose it.

Understanding Imperialism

On surface analysis, one could be forgiven for believing that the very concept of ‘Empire’ had been consigned to the dustbin of history, as a racist, oppressive and very much outmoded concept from another age. However, the concepts of ‘empire’ and ‘imperialism’ are as real, living and heightened today as they have ever been. More >>>

US out of Shannon airport

The Dublin government has for decades been willing to allow foreign armies use its airports for the movement of troops, aircraft and materials.  In return the relevant airports receive payment of landing fees and other income in the form of fuel sales, waste disposal services etc.  The Dublin government also believes that the provision of such facilities creates goodwill which in turn enhances the prospect of ‘direct investment’ from those countries whose militaries make use of Irish airports. More>>>

Blood on our hands - Profiting from death

Irish complicity in imperialist aggression and war-crimes is not only restricted to support from the Twenty-Six County government and political establishment. This complicity also manifests itself in a less public dimension in private industry in both the Six and Twenty-Six Counties where the profit to be made from the manufacture of weaponry is put before the suffering of the victims of that same weaponry. More >>>