Rise of racism in the Irish state
The riots have declined, but the government leads the drive against migrants
In many ways the Dublin race riot of 2023 could be viewed as a predictor for the UK riots in August of this year. In both cases misinformation about a knife attack on children became the focus of far-right forces who organised online to explode onto the streets.
But in reality, the growth of these movements is quite different. The Irish now have far right groups on the streets and embryo political parties, but they have nothing to compare to the political power of their English counterparts in Reform and various fragments of the Tory party.
The connecting link in both countries is the role of the major parties and the state in diverting attention from the overall attack on the working class by systematically beating the racist drum and the failure of the left to confront this reality.
Before the Dublin riots there had been a gradually increasing drumbeat of forces opposed to refugees often focused in rural areas and centred around the issue of local resources involving housing and health. The entry of Ukrainian migrants had led to a crisis in that Ireland, notoriously laggard in admitting migrants, had admitted over 100,000 Ukrainian under temporary protection orders. This was not part of the existing very harsh refugee system but ensured state payments, housing and the right to work. The arrangement was ordered by the US and NATO as part of Ireland's involvement in the Ukraine war. It did create genuine strain in an already crisis ridden housing supply system.
Irish racism meant that real opposition did not develop until smaller groups arrived from the Middle East and Africa. This opposition existed within the framework of parochial Irish populism and was focused on resources especially housing. It met with tacit support from members of the governing parties at local level and local Garda. Most Dail parties retreated, saying that what was needed was better government communication and consultation with protestors.
Later on, in some areas local councillors became more deeply involved, arguing for expulsion of refugees to free up accommodation for the tourist trade or to maximise their vote in the local elections.
In the background hard right racists linked to UK and US groups organised physical attacks and arson aimed at refugees and their supporters.
The issue exploded with a major riot in Dublin in late 2023. There was an outbreak of indignation from the government and promises of tough action. In reality the opposite happened. All those arrested faced minor charges and were released on bail. The Garda stepped back from racist demonstrations. The government took action against migrants, denying them their legal rights, pushing many onto the streets in contravention of international law and then sweeping their tents away and placing them in isolated camps. Initially this was to “tidy” Dublin for St Patrick's Day tourism, but as the local elections approached there was a more conscious effort to win the right-wing vote.
Nothing illustrated the central role of the government more than the situation after the local elections. Local thugs in Dublin’s Coolock region were allowed to riot and carry out arson attacks. When the elections were over the Garda moved in and dispersed them. The government also announced a tranche of new anti-migrant measures. The racism was to carry on, but not the violence and disruption.
What of the opposition? In February 2023 50,000 marched under the slogan "Refugees are Welcome here." The unions, NGOs, Sinn Féin and socialist groups all took part.
Following the December riots Sinn Féin moved sharply right. The trade union leaders called a lunchtime protest and handed the whole issue to the government. The NGOs disappeared and, at a recent demonstration, 100 socialists were vastly outnumbered by a racist mob filling O'Connell Street.
So, a government that has piled untold misery on Irish workers by privatisation of housing and health, that is openly involved in NATO, European militarisation and the proxy war in Ukraine, that sings and dances around the Gaza genocide without ever doing anything or offend the US government, wins the local elections, largely because it played the race card.
This level of political control, combined with the retreat of Sinn Féin, the unions, and the left, drives a coach and horses through the ability of the workers to resist.
An anti-racist movement will have to drop happy-clappy slogans and link solidarity of the working class and oppressed to the daily attacks on workers living standards across the board. The central issue of housing requires a call for public housing for all and for a programme of tenant rights that reels in landlordism.