Gerry Adams and Robert Mugabe have something in common

How ironic that the eras of Mugabe and Adams are drawing to a close at roughly the same time. Both are men of blood. Both remained in office for unhealthily long periods of time, reflecting the essentially undemocratic nature of their political machines and their origins in armed insurgency. It now turns out that neither is departing immediately.

Of course  there are significant differences. Adams will go with the adulation of his followers and  continuing influence. Mugabe led  the majority fraction of a liberation movement which ruthlessly crushed opposition on his own side and is dragging his ageing feet in the teeth of party as well as popular clamour urging him to quit.

Or is there more of a similarity here than appears on the surface? In each case nirvana has not arrived. Irish unity remains a viable vision as much despite Sinn Fein as because of it.  Whether Zimbabwe’s future is democratic or just another Zanu PF stitch- up remains to be played out.

The most salient difference is the rapt attention paid to  every move over Mugabe in the  British media, while  Adam’s rather clearer announcement  was virtually ignored.  In the chaotic state of Westminster politics, Ireland north and south feature only as a footnote to Brexit. Zimbabwe is  more interesting as  part of the post-colonial angst, even though British  influence in the country is notably absent.

Sinn Fein now  takes a major step  towards becoming just another Irish minority  leftish party rooted in history and eligible as a coalition partner, like  Clan na Poblacta and  the Workers’ Party before them. Currently they stand a better chance than Labour of becoming the minority left coalition partner of choice, whatever Fianna Fail may say just now.  A good deal less likely is the realisation of Sinn Fein’s ambition to force a new polarity between left and right in Irish politics to become the official opposition and ultimately a main party of government.

In years to come, Mugabe will revert to iconic status as a founding father with complications.  Gerry Adams will continue to exemplify toxicity and unique appeal in equal measure. as Ed Moloney explains with his usual force.   He is unlikely to disappear without trace for as long as he lives, however much time he now spends on the trampoline.

His indispensible role in the peace process is his considerable egacy. He can add to his reputation as a “master strategist”  one last time by repositioning  Sinn Fein to return to the Assembly rather than their current antics as lords of misrule with the DUP.  The electoral dividend in the Republic seems clear enough.  Ireland north and south are surely longing for a quieter, more stable life.