An Introduction to the Irish Socialist Network:

What is the Irish Socialist Network?

The ISN is a radical democratic socialist organisation formed in 2001. It is a campaigning organisation which works actively to fight for the rights of ordinary people and to help build a socialist Ireland.

What is socialism?

It means ordinary people being in complete control of their own lives. Together we can run our own communities and workplaces. We don’t need bosses or politicians to tell us what to do. We produce all the wealth in the country so it should be owned and controlled by us and used for our benefit: to build houses for all, decent hospitals and to give our kids a good education. This is what the ISN fights for.

That’s all fine but is it realistic?

Real socialism has worked and does work. The only reason it’s not more widespread is because everywhere it worked the bosses or the politicians got scared of a good example and they tried to crush it. At different times and in different places throughout the world ordinary people have taken control of their own destiny.

How do we create a socialist society?

By winning people over to the idea of socialism. By joining in their everyday struggles to win real changes in the present and linking these struggles to the fight for a socialist republic. By building a mass socialist movement which is strong enough to defeat the ruling class. The message we have is that people can transform society themselves by working together.

But don’t we already control things because Ireland is a democracy?

Voting for a council or the Dail every few years is important but it’s only a pale shadow of real democracy. No matter who gets elected the wealthy and powerful still rule. We believe in breaking the power of that class so that everything is run democratically. Workers would elect factory and office councils, communities would elect local committees and all elected reps would get the same wage as those who elected them and could be recalled at anytime. The resources and wealth of the country would be owned and controlled, collectively and democratically by the working people of Ireland.

Why does the ISN take part in elections?

We don’t believe that getting someone elected can change much and we don’t want to fool people into thinking that a councillor or TD can do everything for them. But elections can be used to show how much support your ideas have and to raise the issues that ordinary people are campaigning on. If an ISN member is elected they will only use their position to encourage people to organise themselves.

How is the ISN organised?

Every member is equal and has an equal say. All decisions are made democratically by the members, not by a small group of leaders. Anyone who agrees with our basic principles and is willing to do their bit can join. Members are encouraged to express their opinions freely and take part in decision making.

If I join the ISN, what kind of commitment will be expected of me?

ISN members are expected to take part in activities, meetings and back-up work, depending on each person’s circumstances. The key thing is that they are committed to our socialist principles and participate in whatever way they can.

Does the ISN think it can achieve all these things by itself?

We will only be able to make an impact when all those who want to build a society based on freedom and equality are joined together in a big movement. This movement will need to unite socialists, community activists, trade unionists, environmentalists etc. To start this process we need a new campaigning party of the working class. We can’t create such a party overnight but we need to work with other radical socialists towards that goal.

What’s the difference between the ISN and other leftwing groups?

The ISN is a democratic organisation. Members decide on the activities and policies and elect any office holders. Some other socialist groups are not organised democratically. Their policies are handed down from a small group of leaders who are retain control through sham elections where leaderships renew themselves by ‘recommending’ who should be elected. People who dissent are either expelled or sidelined. This type of organisation, usually called ‘democratic centralism’, is in direct conflict with the open participatory socialism that the ISN stands for.

The ISN believes that socialists need to engage with workers. Socialists bring to the workers the ideas of socialism but we learn just as much from the everyday experience and fresh ideas of working people. Some other left wing groups believe that workers simply need to follow their ‘leadership’ without question. We reject this elitist view of the working class.

Why is the ISN a Marxist organisation?

The ideas of Karl Marx provide us with very useful tools to help understand how capitalism works and how to fight for a new socialist society. Of course we also find inspiration in the writings of other great socialists such as James Connolly and Rosa Luxemburg. However we don’t treat the writings of Marx as a Bible which reveals the whole truth to us. Our own experience and ideas are equally useful.

Isn’t it better to join a big ‘left’ party like Sinn Fein or Labour?

These parties are only interested in getting into government, not changing the way society is run. Even if they win the same wealthy class still own and control everything. In reality these parties usually don’t even bring in major reforms but sell out all the promises they made. These parties are controlled by their TDs and Councillors not their members. The real way to change society is for working people to take control of their own communities and workplaces not relying on others to do it for them.

I’m interested in the ISN, how do I find out more?

Just contact us at:

irishsocialistnetwork@dublin.ie

087-9487554

and we will send you an introduction pack and inform you about our current meetings and activities.