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.
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.
