Background to the Research

• In the 1970s the ideology that underpinned PIRA thinking in obtaining a United Ireland was one of violence. However, many republicans realised that after twenty-five years of armed struggle, their position had remained largely unaltered in Northern Ireland.
• In the early 1980s Irish republicanism went through a period of transition, with more emphasis placed on communication. Dialogue became the new weapon of change.
  

Research Approach

• The research undertaken is based upon interviews with prominent Sinn Fein members whose opinions and viewpoints are used in this paper as examples of the political shifts undertaken in recent years. Academic literature is also used to contextualise the study.
  

Main Findings

• Sinn Fein realised that violence was counter-productive as it prevented much needed investment in deprived areas and encouraged Loyalist retaliation.
• The ascendancy and growth of a Catholic middle class had to be recognised by Republicans. The problem for Sinn Fein was realising that this group placed more emphasis on material interests than on national/ideological interests.
• The shift in policy by Sinn Fein based upon dialogue as opposed to open violent conflict was in essence a tactical shift and in no way accepted the legitimacy of the British State. Essentially, this shift was due to the 'long war' and a re-orientation of Sinn Fein ideology as a form of 'mobilised social consciousness'. Taking possession of the language of peace in order to re-define the meaning of the conflict was central to the new strategy and opened up a new communicative dimension.
• The control of language, Sinn Fein found, was most important as it provided the British State and media with the opportunity to define 'republican', and to a lesser extent 'loyalist' communities, as deviant, criminal and outside the bounds of normative values. Thus it realised the significance of verbal as well as written communication.
• The newspaper 'An Phoblacht', the most prominent Republican newspaper, was used as a vehicle for change, and became increasingly devoted to socio-economic, health and gender themes, as opposed to open conflict. Similarly, murals included themes that examined issues such as unemployment, gender, and the environment, instead of warfare.

Conclusion

• The shift in Republican thinking of achieving a United Ireland in recent years has, on the whole, moved their political process forward. There are more people within, and significantly more people from outside the Province, who now hear the voice of Republicanism. However, all Republicans do not welcome dialogue, as the recent Canary Wharf bombings have shown. The shift has given Republicanism a platform from which to voice their political opinions and, more importantly, created an atmosphere of change based on democracy instead of bloodshed. In essence, the political war in Northern Ireland is now fought with words instead of weapons. Essentially, 'discourses become weapons of attack and defence in the relations of power and knowledge'.