Assess the reasons why Sinn Féin succeeded in replacing the Social
Democratic Labour Party as the main Nationalist party after 1998. (25
marks)
As we know there are countless ways, why Sinn Féin has became the
dominant Nationalist party in Northern Ireland. When the Good Friday
Agreement was discussed it was the Social Democratic Labour Party, who
wanted it and Sinn Féin agreed as well. From 1998, the SDLP have found it
hard to dominate the Nationalist vote and keep getting less and less votes
every election. The main reasons for Sinn Féin’s success is political
circumstances, solid leadership and their policies and strategy.
Firstly, Sinn Féin’s political circumstances from 1994 onwards, Sinn Féin
tried to encourage the Nationalist community to keep on a path of peace.
People who would have never voted for Sinn Féin but since they gave up
supporting ‘armed struggle’ and moving towards more constitutional
politics a ceasefire was declared and Sinn Féin have built on this since.
Sinn Féin have committed themselves to working with the institutions in
Northern Ireland and work in a power-sharing government with the DUP.
This has led to both Nationalists and Unionists governing Northern Ireland.
Furthermore, Sinn Féin have benefited from 1998 to now with strong
leadership such as Gerry Adams and Martin McGuinness as they knew
what they wanted for the Nationalist community in Northern Ireland. The
current first minister Michelle O’Neill since 2017 is a solid negotiator, and
her first task was to lead them into 2017 negotiations with the DUP.
However, the SDLP went through significantly more leaders compared to
Sinn Féin since John Hume from 1979 to 2001leader and Seamus Mallon
deputy leader from 1979 to 2001 retired. On from that, Mark Durkan
stepped in as leader from 2001 to around 2007, who had an
uncontentious time as leader, although the grew critical of DUP and Sinn
Féin as what he regarded as Monopoly power. Shortly after, Margaret
Richie spent one year as leader and was blamed for the party’s poor
performance but like Durkan, she wanted to focus on her Westminster
career. Afterwards, Alasdair McDonnell came into play from 2011 to 2015
and got off to an inauspicious start when he complained about the lighting
at a victory press conference. The SDLP, still keep struggling to gain
proportion of the Nationalist votes. Sinn Féin’s leadership has dominated
over the SDLP as by the time it had came to St Andrew, they had won the
Nationalist vote as they have changed their policies more left wing
towards working class and targeted to young people. SDLP aren’t a
modern 21st century party they still hold traditional views, while Sinn Féin
have moved to more modern views on societal issues.
Democratic Labour Party as the main Nationalist party after 1998. (25
marks)
As we know there are countless ways, why Sinn Féin has became the
dominant Nationalist party in Northern Ireland. When the Good Friday
Agreement was discussed it was the Social Democratic Labour Party, who
wanted it and Sinn Féin agreed as well. From 1998, the SDLP have found it
hard to dominate the Nationalist vote and keep getting less and less votes
every election. The main reasons for Sinn Féin’s success is political
circumstances, solid leadership and their policies and strategy.
Firstly, Sinn Féin’s political circumstances from 1994 onwards, Sinn Féin
tried to encourage the Nationalist community to keep on a path of peace.
People who would have never voted for Sinn Féin but since they gave up
supporting ‘armed struggle’ and moving towards more constitutional
politics a ceasefire was declared and Sinn Féin have built on this since.
Sinn Féin have committed themselves to working with the institutions in
Northern Ireland and work in a power-sharing government with the DUP.
This has led to both Nationalists and Unionists governing Northern Ireland.
Furthermore, Sinn Féin have benefited from 1998 to now with strong
leadership such as Gerry Adams and Martin McGuinness as they knew
what they wanted for the Nationalist community in Northern Ireland. The
current first minister Michelle O’Neill since 2017 is a solid negotiator, and
her first task was to lead them into 2017 negotiations with the DUP.
However, the SDLP went through significantly more leaders compared to
Sinn Féin since John Hume from 1979 to 2001leader and Seamus Mallon
deputy leader from 1979 to 2001 retired. On from that, Mark Durkan
stepped in as leader from 2001 to around 2007, who had an
uncontentious time as leader, although the grew critical of DUP and Sinn
Féin as what he regarded as Monopoly power. Shortly after, Margaret
Richie spent one year as leader and was blamed for the party’s poor
performance but like Durkan, she wanted to focus on her Westminster
career. Afterwards, Alasdair McDonnell came into play from 2011 to 2015
and got off to an inauspicious start when he complained about the lighting
at a victory press conference. The SDLP, still keep struggling to gain
proportion of the Nationalist votes. Sinn Féin’s leadership has dominated
over the SDLP as by the time it had came to St Andrew, they had won the
Nationalist vote as they have changed their policies more left wing
towards working class and targeted to young people. SDLP aren’t a
modern 21st century party they still hold traditional views, while Sinn Féin
have moved to more modern views on societal issues.
