Sinn Féin – Polling data, political positions and political science insights

Sinn Féin was founded in 1905 by Arthur Griffith and means 'Ourselves' in Irish. The party arose in response to British rule in Ireland and fought for independence. In the early years, Sinn Féin was closely associated with the Irish Republican Army (IRA), which fought for a united and independent Ireland. After the Anglo-Irish Treaty of 1921 and the resulting partition of Ireland, the party experienced several splits. In the 1970s, at the onset of the Northern Ireland conflict, modern Sinn Féin reformed and played a central role in the political wing of the republican movement.

Sinn Féin is a left-wing party with the primary goal of creating a united Ireland. It advocates for social justice, economic equality, and the promotion of Irish culture. The party supports a strong state role in areas such as housing, health, and education to reduce social inequalities. Additionally, Sinn Féin advocates for Ireland's neutrality in international affairs and opposes membership in military alliances such as NATO.

Sinn Féin played a crucial role in the Northern Ireland peace process that led to the Good Friday Agreement in 1998. The party committed itself to pursuing its goals solely through peaceful and democratic means. This change enabled participation in the Northern Ireland government and contributed to the stabilization of the region. Today, Sinn Féin continues to work towards the promotion of peace and reconciliation between communities in Northern Ireland.