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What's the difference between a nationalist and a republican?

  • 20-06-2009 9:51pm
    #1
    Bottle_of_Smoke
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 9,770 ✭✭✭


    Often in news reports we hear of SDLP being described as nationalist and Sinn Fein as republican.

    What is the difference? They both have the same goal of a United Ireland. Areas are referred to as "nationalist areas" and others "republican strongholds"

    Is republican directly related to armed struggle? It seems no as others who denounce violence still claim to be "republicans"

    Can anyone give a definition or is there crossover?


Comments

  • #2
    brianthebard
    Closed Accounts Posts: 16,165 ✭✭✭✭brianthebard


    I think the majority of the time they are used as synoymns even though it is incorrect to do so. To be nationalist or republican simply (imo) means that you believe in a tradition that is either nationalist or republican.


  • #3
    Judgement Day
    Closed Accounts Posts: 13,549 ✭✭✭✭Judgement Day


    A gun?


  • #4
    A Primal Nut
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 5,949 ✭✭✭A Primal Nut


    Its like on the other side you have moderate unionists and extreme loyalists. For whatever reason, thats how the terminology developed to describe the four main political parties in Northern Ireland. I don't think Loyalism, Unionism, Nationalism and Republicaism have much to do with their original terms. Republicans are also nationalist and nationalists are also republicans. Unionists are also Loyalist and Loyalists are Unionists. Loyalists and Unionists are also British Nationalists. And republicans and nationalists are Unionist in the sense they want a united Ireland.

    The 4 terms as they are used in Northern Ireland are fairly arbitrary and probably just evolved. Although I guess Loyalism and Republicanism are the extreme terms because neither could be used to describe the other side whereas Nationalism and Unionism can.


  • #5
    Babbit
    Closed Accounts Posts: 89 ✭✭Babbit


    Its rather simple really: One group think political murder is acceptable and the other do not.


  • #6
    Judgement Day
    Closed Accounts Posts: 13,549 ✭✭✭✭Judgement Day


    Or one could say that a Nationalist is an armchair Republican!


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  • #7
    brianthebard
    Closed Accounts Posts: 16,165 ✭✭✭✭brianthebard


    Two unhelpful posts are enough Judgement day. The thread has the potential for interesting discussion but also will be closely modded. This isn't AH.


  • #8
    IIMII
    Closed Accounts Posts: 1,366 ✭✭✭IIMII


    Irish nationalism is all about identity, Irish republicanism is about a political ideal.

    I consider myself a republican first and foremost in that I don't worry too much about our national identity (it changes) but I adamantly believe in the logic that a republic offers the best prospects for meritocracy, and the opportunity for every Irish person to be treated as an equal in their own country. And by that, I mean in every corner of their own country.


  • #9
    Hermione*
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 14,983 ✭✭✭✭Hermione*


    The terms nationalist and republican are used differently in Irish politics to the way they would be used in political theory. My understanding has always been that a nationalist also desires a 32 county united Ireland but not one attained by force. Nationalists in the 1960s and 1970s had a greater acceptance of the reality of British rule in NI - they campaigned for civil rights on the premise that they were entitled to the same rights as Protestants as they were all British citizens. Republicans however (up until fairly recently) refused to recognise British rule in Northern Ireland. Their ultimate aim has always been to remove British government from Ireland and to re-unite the two Irish states.


  • #10
    Capt'n Midnight
    Moderators, Recreation & Hobbies Moderators, Science, Health & Environment Moderators, Technology & Internet Moderators Posts: 93,597 Mod ✭✭✭✭Capt'n Midnight


    FF calls itself a republican party, but I don't think anyone really believes that anymore.

    SF Republicans are Socialists, leaving the EU etc. and in the eyes of many are tainted by criminal activity in the past, as are other breakaway parties from the same root.


  • #11
    conchubhar1
    Closed Accounts Posts: 2,653 ✭✭✭conchubhar1


    sinn féin would be republican and nationalist
    sdlp would be nationalist

    capt'n midnight - http://www.sinnfein.ie/eu-affairs

    where does that say pull out of the eu?


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  • #12
    conchubhar1
    Closed Accounts Posts: 2,653 ✭✭✭conchubhar1


    Hermione* wrote: »
    The terms nationalist and republican are used differently in Irish politics to the way they would be used in political theory. My understanding has always been that a nationalist also desires a 32 county united Ireland but not one attained by force. Nationalists in the 1960s and 1970s had a greater acceptance of the reality of British rule in NI - they campaigned for civil rights on the premise that they were entitled to the same rights as Protestants as they were all British citizens. Republicans however (up until fairly recently) refused to recognise British rule in Northern Ireland. Their ultimate aim has always been to remove British government from Ireland and to re-unite the two Irish states.

    all nationalist, republicans etc campaigned for that - i think we know how that kicked off.....


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