World Politics Book Review - 'A Pathway to Peace'
Author: Gerry Adams
Publisher: The Mercier Press Cork and Dublin
Year of Publication: 1988
This book was written by Gerry Adams, the President of the Sinn Féin, as a collection of his uncensored views to bringing peace to Northern Ireland. His view is that the six counties in Northern Ireland should be allowed complete self-determination, which in turn would lead to a unified Irish island. However, because of the British interests in Northern Ireland, this has been prevented both through military means as well as political veto. Gerry Adams proposes a strategy to create peace and Irish unity, and the need for the retreat of the British from matters concerning Northern Ireland.
The majority of the book mentions the right for self-determination in the six counties and how the British State has wrongfully denied this. Firstly he reviews the Hillsborough Treaty, which was signed in 1985. He especially pinpoints one article in this treaty as being a "bulwark against Irish unity". He then proceeds to summarise the failures of the treaty during the three years since after its signing. A few examples of the British acting as arbitrators in justice are also given. Gerry Adams gives a very good definition of peace not simply the absence of war or conflict but that "it is the existence of conditions of justice and equality that eradicate the causes of war or conflict." The opinion given is that this can not be achieved through justice, as the laws of justice are set by the British, for their own benefit.
Author: Gerry Adams
Publisher: The Mercier Press Cork and Dublin
Year of Publication: 1988
This book was written by Gerry Adams, the President of the Sinn Féin, as a collection of his uncensored views to bringing peace to Northern Ireland. His view is that the six counties in Northern Ireland should be allowed complete self-determination, which in turn would lead to a unified Irish island. However, because of the British interests in Northern Ireland, this has been prevented both through military means as well as political veto. Gerry Adams proposes a strategy to create peace and Irish unity, and the need for the retreat of the British from matters concerning Northern Ireland.
The majority of the book mentions the right for self-determination in the six counties and how the British State has wrongfully denied this. Firstly he reviews the Hillsborough Treaty, which was signed in 1985. He especially pinpoints one article in this treaty as being a "bulwark against Irish unity". He then proceeds to summarise the failures of the treaty during the three years since after its signing. A few examples of the British acting as arbitrators in justice are also given. Gerry Adams gives a very good definition of peace not simply the absence of war or conflict but that "it is the existence of conditions of justice and equality that eradicate the causes of war or conflict." The opinion given is that this can not be achieved through justice, as the laws of justice are set by the British, for their own benefit.
