Realpolitik, Irish-style

So what can we take from the Irish election just past? Out of 166 seats, 130 went to either of the big two parties, Fianna Fail and Fine Gael. Decimation for the Progressive Democrats, stagnation for Labour and the Greens, and a clear lack of interest in Sinn Fein. A resounding vote in favour of pragmatism and flexibility and a rejection of idealism on either the right or the left.

And in truth, this is a reflection of the state of the country in 2007. Ireland is the home of the pragmatist. Idealism and dogma are too close to be trusted in a country that has suffered so much over the past 100 years from an excess of the latter. What counts now is the ability to constantly judge which way the wind is blowing and change tack as needs be to ensure that we stay ahead of the weather. We have become a nation of individuals looking to react to events and our environment, unencumbered by deep-seated beliefs or hardened positions. (The point might be made of course that this was always the Irish way - in 1840, Soren Kierkegaard wondered whether he might have Irish blood in him, given his own lack of consistency and the Irish willingness to sacrifice principle in the interest of having their cake while also eating it, saying 'For the Irish have not the heart to baptise their children completely, they want to preserve just a little paganism and whereas a child is normally completely immersed, they keep his right arm out of the water so that in the after life he can grasp a sword and hold a girl in his arm').

What both Fianna Fail and Fine Gael offer to the Irish people is political acceptance that idealism is a tainted philosophy. Both are willing to drink from whichever well has the sweetest water at any time (which has the effect of giving us a self-proclaimed socialist Taoiseach who pursues apparently right-wing policies on healthcare and finance). Both occupy the centre ground, which stands for nothing in particular but everything in general. And most importantly, both offer the electorate the assurance that they understand that people are no longer interested in vision, but rather in maintaining a comfortable status quo for the majority.

This is democracy without a capital 'd'. This is knowing on which side our bread is buttered and being confident that with friends in high places there will be more of the same. This is realpolitik, Irish-style.