Editorial

Abstract

Revolution at the Ballot Box

The General Election of 2011 which brought the downfall of Fianna Fail and the Greens was described as a riot at the ballot box'. The Independent called the recent local and European election results a 'revolution at the ballot box'.

Marxists understand, of course, that there has not really been a revolution; the government remains in once, the state machine remains intact, the ruling class still rules and there has not yet been what Trotsky called `the most indubitable feature of a revolution ...the direct interference of the masses in historic events'. Nevertheless the Independent's hyperbole is not completely over the top - what took place in Ireland on 23 May was a political upheaval of serious dimensions.