The Irish Republican Army was a resistance group against British imperialism and fought for Irish sovereignty, something that the Irish have dealt with for hundreds of years. The IRA was most active from the late 60s, throughout the 70s and ended their activity in the 90s.

Early on the IRA split into two factions; the “official” IRA and “provisional” IRA. The split, as you all know about Socialist and Communist movements, happened because of fundamental ideological differences. The official IRA had Marxist Leninist leadership and the provisional IRA was made up of more traditional leadership, more interested in a traditional sovereign Irish Republic; having Ulster Protestantism as their religion. The traditional leaders of course didn’t like the idea of Marxist Leninists leading the charge but the Marxists analysis of their situation led them to realize that a United front would be preferable goal to attain sovereignty.

Why did Ireland become such a hotbed of revolution in the west? Ireland represented a long history of a heavily exploited and oppressed peoples. Victims of the British Empire. The IRA represented one of the most advanced Proletariat of the west European countries. A people who have been at the centers of contradiction. Contradiction between the powerful and wealthy exploitive British Empire against the smaller Ireland; a fundamental contradiction which would feed into discrimination, racism, prejudices. The contradiction between the Protestant England and Catholic Irish, the contradiction English bourgeoisie and Irish bourgeoisie mostly loyal to the United Kingdom.

The IRA, and specifically it’s Marxist Leninist faction (we can learn from the more traditionalist faction as well) like the Black Panther Party in the United States were Proletarians in the west powers that led the most active and advanced in revolutionary theory for the conditions of the western imperialist powers. The IRA should be studied especially for English and Scottish Proletariat to understand their struggles, and how their struggles went from riots and demonstrations to armed struggle. We should learn their mistakes and victories. Studying Marx and Lenin and Mao are very important but studying the most advanced movements in our respective countries, US and UK would allow us to synthesize our theory according to past existing struggles and current struggles.