Drawing upon a wide range of archival material and oral histories, this book analyses the internal dynamics of Irish republicanism since the outbreak of conflict in 1969. Examining more than 500 political periodicals and ephemera, ‘The age-old struggle’ assesses the complexity of republicanism’s composition, intellectual and ideological influences, and internal dynamics amid tactical and strategic reorientation. Moreover, engaging the perspectives of more than 250 republican activists, this book illuminates how the movement’s base experienced the conflict, and how it is remembered today. Throu ... More

Drawing upon a wide range of archival material and oral histories, this book analyses the internal dynamics of Irish republicanism since the outbreak of conflict in 1969. Examining more than 500 political periodicals and ephemera, ‘The age-old struggle’ assesses the complexity of republicanism’s composition, intellectual and ideological influences, and internal dynamics amid tactical and strategic reorientation. Moreover, engaging the perspectives of more than 250 republican activists, this book illuminates how the movement’s base experienced the conflict, and how it is remembered today. Through five thematic chapters, this book explains how class, place, and networks within the movement alternately sustained, complicated, and fragmented republican politics. Republicans experienced class and interacted with class politics differently. Activists spatialised and historicised their struggle locally, nationally, and internationally. At moments of crisis and transformation in their campaign, republicans mobilised in contrasting networks which either advocated or repudiated ‘new departures’. These competing milieux mediated individual interpretations of strategic change and power dynamics within republicanism. This book’s conclusions have implications for assessments of radical movements beyond Ireland, and for understanding Irish republicanism today.