Another Small Island: Double Standards in the Irish Foreign Policy Debate

Cuba. Another small island nation, trying to assert its independence from a bullying neighbor. Trying to build its own form of democracy. Right? Well, perhaps they need to do more on the democracy front.

This is the benign view of the Communist dictatorship in Cuba held, not only by the Irish Communist Party, but probably a fair chunk of the Irish intellectual and journalistic class. After conceding that “they really should do democracy, you know,” they typically apologise for or downplay the oppression that remains characteristic of that island polity. And, even the dictatorial elements are blamed on the United States. The message is clear: if the Cubans were left alone, they would sort it out. Democracy would evolve.

The United States certainly abused Cuba on many occasions in the years from 1899 until the Communist takeover. In the earliest years of the twentieth century, America was sorely tempted to join the European colonial game – witness her role in the Philippines too.

However, by the 1960s, all of this was history. From this point on, U.S. interventions were largely about countering Communist insurgencies that might have produced strategic inroads for the Soviet Union. Castro’s flirtation with the Russians, and especially his encouragement of their dangerous missile deployment, were bound to provoke the United States.

In the 1970s, Castro sent thousands of young Cuban men to fight in nasty wars in Africa, especially in Angola, under the rubric of “internationalism.” Cuba became a mercenary state for the Soviet Union. There has been some discussion among dissidents about the treatment of veterans. But Cuba didn’t have its post-Angola debate on foreign policy. It doesn’t have an Obama preaching that its overseas ventures were too costly for a poor and enfeebled nation. It doesn’t have real debate….. period.

Think about Ireland again. Suppose Ireland had allowed Britain’s enemies to plant missiles here. Suppose Irish troops were sent, not as peacekeepers, but as “internationalist fighters” to fight the British in the Malvinas-Falklands War! Suppose Ireland had supported the Axis Powers. And suppose it was ruled as a one-party Sinn Fein dictatorship! I think we would suffer more than an economic embargo.

Irish liberals are actively campaigning for elections in Zimbabwe. they would surely see a Mugabe resignation but no chance  of ZANU-PF abdication as unacceptable. But the Cuban opposition demands for freedom and democracy are no different from those of the Burmese and Zimbabwean campaigners.

Irish NGOs involved in solidarity campaigns with the Castro dynasty should be ashamed of themselves. Ireland is a better model than Cuba  – for small, developing nations. The Irish Government should openly assert this on the world stage, even in Latin America.  

Ireland should express its solidarity with Cuba, with the Cubans who are struggling to replace the Communists with a democratic government. It should join the U.S. embargo. It should offer tax incentives to firms disadvantaged by European and Canadian sanctions-busting. It should block any further European Union appeasement of the Havana regime.

Forget the Castro apologists in RTE or among the NGOs. End Fianna Fail silence. Ireland should have a lot to say about Cuba, and nothing like we have heard from Dublin so far.

Timor Leste: Ireland Fails to Tackle New Political Elite

As a small nation with a past marred by foreign colonial rule, Ireland often feels the need to express solidarity with small islands with a similar history in developing regions. So Indonesia’s occupation of East Timor and its role in post-independence violence triggered drumbeats in Dublin, even, or especially, among the Anglophile elites interested in asserting their Irish loyalties. I recall very vocal campaigning on this by people like David Norris.

As with the anti-war campaigners in the Viet Nam era, many of these leftist activists go all quiet after “liberation.”

There’s another example of this in recent RTE coverage of further violewnce in Timor Leste. A typical report does concede mystery over why the new government failed to take advantage of aid and assistance. The mystery is solved by the usual descent into simplistic sociology: give them employment – it’s the economy stupid.

It’s hard to deny that lack of opportunity among the young and economic deprivation are part of the story. Irish aid efforts directed there will be helpful.

However, the legacy of leftist ideology and revolutionary rhetoric, much ignored by Mr Norris, of course, must also be factored in. Thus, Irish foreign aid decision-makers would do well to supplement their Irish Times and RTE solidarity diets with alternative perspectives, such as this from political scientist Francis Fukuyama. perhaps we could then tackle the leadership in Timor about political pluralism, language policy and attitudes to economic freedom. And maybe Mr Norris might like to revisit the Timor theme from a broader perspective than “jusstiss” and anti-imperialism.