Destiny of the Soldiers - Fianna Fail, Irish Republicanism and the IRA, 1926-1973 - The History of Ireland's Largest and Most Successful Political Party

Fianna Fil is Ireland's largest political party and one of the most successful parties in any democracy in the world. Until recent years, it has been almost constantly in government since 1932. Incisive, engaging and thought-provoking, Destiny of the Soldiers charts Fianna Fil's political and ideological evolution from its revolutionary origins through extended periods in office. In particular, the book assesses Fianna Fil's changing attitudes towards its parent party, Sinn Fein, and the IRA, and how these changes affected Fianna Fil's policies towards Northern Ireland. This fascinating volume argues that Fianna Fil's goals, foremost among them the reunification of the national territory as a republic, became the means to bind its members together, to gain votes, and to legitimise its role in Irish society. But the official ideological goals concealed what became merely a basic desire to rule. The balance sheet, consequently, became one of votes won or lost rather than goals achieved or postponed. Never forgetting its republican roots, Fianna Fil has at times been both troubled and conflicted by them. This was especially the case in the late 1960s and early 1970s when the Northern Ireland Troubles posed a challenge for all rhetorical republicans. At that time, Fianna Fil found itself the governing party of a state whose legitimacy it had originally rejected: the consequent tensions nearly tore it apart.Destiny of the Soldiers is the first survey of the party's history which focuses on these unresolved tensions. Destiny of the Soldiers: Table of ContentsLegion of the Rearguard: The revolutionary origins of Fianna Fil, 192023Removing the straitjacket of the Republic, 19236Fianna Filthe Republican PartyFianna Fil and the Irish Free State, 192731Election Time, 19312 Fianna Fil in power, 19328Revolutionary crocodile, 193940The showdown, 194046A new republican rival, 19468Drift, 194859Approach to crisis, 196069'The moment of truth', 196971Doomsday, 19713Conclusions: The destiny of the Soldiers