RENEWING THE REPUBLIC:Is Féidir Linn is working with a range of interest groups to develop a narrative based on equality and inclusion, writes MARY MURPHY, NIALL CROWLEYand AIDEN LLOYD
THE NAME “Is Féidir Linn” seeks to capture the optimism and hope that infused the Obama presidential election campaign and apply it here. It is the name under which a group of people involved in civil-society initiatives for community development, equality, human rights and social inclusion have organised. Our goal is to imagine an alternative Ireland based on equality, inclusion and sustainability and to contribute to the emergence of a social movement to create this alternative.
Many contributors to the Renewing the Republic series have emphasised the need for political reform. They have argued that reform will not come from within the system. They have called for civil assemblies, plebiscites, civic forums and other mechanisms to initiate the process of renewing our political, economic and social lives.
Is Féidir Linn first came together out of concern for what was happening to the community sector. The community sector is a key part of civil society – a part that can identify, bring forward and advocate for those experiencing inequality and disadvantage. We are concerned at the manner in which the sector was being silenced. Threats to the funding of those organisations that advanced a critical advocacy, funding contracts that limited the sphere of activity of the funded organisation to the provision of local services, and the recent reconfiguration of the Community Development Programme in a manner that compromises the funded organisations’ independence have diminished the sector’s important contribution.
It is ironic that damage is being done to the community sector at a time of growing consensus that the necessary impetus for change must come from civil society. This suggests we need a redefinition of participation that goes beyond the language of civic forums or citizen assemblies. What is needed are civil society-led processes that stress the importance of collective responses to social and economic issues.
There are many examples here and internationally of how civil society-initiated participation can open up public discourse about alternatives. Key to this more radical approach is involving grassroots community groups. Now more than ever we need to open the public imagination to alternatives.
The response to the crisis involves mortgaging our future to bail out the banks. It has created unprecedented unemployment. Key social services are being starved of resources and dismantled. The standard of living of the poorest is being compromised. Mortgage defaults are an increasing source of hardship. Carbon-intensive production is destroying the environment. Yet this model is defended by an imposed consensus that “there is no alternative”. The articulation of alternatives is blocked by a media that has bought this myth that there is no alternative.
Is Féidir Linn launched its vision in June 2009. We hosted a public event to stimulate discussion and understanding of the need for and content of this alternative. Our alternative was based on inclusion, equality and sustainability. It emphasised the need to stimulate employment in the social economy, to move towards income equality by linking maximum and minimum incomes, to develop a taxation system adequate to fund universal access to high-quality, publicly funded care, health and education services and to protect our natural resources. It promoted more participatory democracy, an impetus to value diversity and to eliminate discrimination.
Is Féidir Linn has since opened up discussions with a broad spectrum of organisations including trade unions, community groups, environmental organisations, faith groups, international development organisations and equality groups. This has included a fruitful dialogue with the Irish Congress of Trade Unions, the organisations from the environmental pillar in social partnership, the Community Platform, Tasc and Social Justice Ireland to explore the potential for wider civil society co-operation and co-ordination around an alternative response to the recession.
There are barriers to putting an alternative analysis into the public domain. It has not been easy to link national organisations to people at local level. This means new ideas have been slow to take hold. These barriers must be overcome if we are to achieve civil society-led responses to our situation.
What is encouraging is the shared interest across sectors in communicating an alternative to the dominant analysis. What holds hope for the future is the shared commitment to supporting a wider mobilisation for an alternative Ireland to emerge from this recession. There is a creative and academic interest in the development of social movements and in civil society bringing forward alternative narratives in response to the crisis. This ranges from grassroots action groups to more structured social movements.
Is Féidir Linn is committed to playing its part in this push for an alternative Ireland.
We hope to be part of a process that enables a reinvigoration of civil society independent of the State, and that ensures a voice for civil society in shaping policy and national debate.
Mary Murphy, Niall Crowley and Aiden Lloyd are members of Is Féidir Linn