Consequences of ‘might is right’ now clear – President

https://www.rte.ie/news/2026/0121/1554306-president-connolly/

Posted by Fealocht

17 Comments

  1. UnfuddleMyPuddle on

    Of course it is. Not saying you don’t need to be strong at some level but the pro-war approach has effectively ended NATO as it was and the western world order.

  2. The UN is now irrelevant. But good to see that she at least understands the risks for small countries like us in this new environment. Hopefully herself and everyone else in Government has watched Carneys speech, it was superb.

  3. Can you imagine an alternative universe where Conor McGregor got the nominations required to get on the ballot and won the presidency

  4. shaadyscientist on

    The Irish left wanted an end to globalisation. Welcome to a de-globalised world where everyone is out for themselves. Be careful what you wish for!

  5. Hopeful-Remote9725 on

    This line is interesting in the context of the debate over defence spending;

    ‘When this becomes the logic of international relations, language no longer protects the vulnerable, it simply records their fate.’

    I think we need to be a bit sensible over what threats might eventuate over the next 30-40 years because other neutral countries spend when we talk a good game. We might want to avoid becoming vulnerable ourselves. I never want to Irish troops deployed overseas outside the very limited circumstances it happens now, but we do have to consider what compromises might be necessary to be able to protect ourselves. Not project power; solely to defend our own territory.

  6. And we have no might just “soft power” which is utterly meaningless. World is retuning to a multi polar one with spheres of influence and Europe let alone ireland are just pieces on the board

  7. “The consequences of ‘might is right’ are now crystal clear before our eyes. Countries can be invaded at will, or threatened with invasion, and the UN organisations doing invaluable work in extremely dangerous locations can be demolished on a whim.”

    “When this becomes the logic of international relations, language no longer protects the vulnerable, it simply records their fate.”

    Why do I feel like this isn’t her acknowledging that she was/is wrong to criticise fellow EU members for trying to rearm, and for advocating for retention of the triple lock (where we effectively cede control of our military to the US, Russia and China)?

  8. “Might is right” is, was and always will be the how the world works. Even in whatever communist utopia which I have no doubt some are imagining, whoever has the most might will have to police this utopia.

    People keep thinking countries work like people. You trust friends because they’re a friend, you don’t just “trust” allies because they’re an ally. You trust an ally because your interests align with their interests

  9. are the consequences actually clear to her though? The consequences for defenseless countries like Ireland are that we need an independent military deterrent and can longer rely on allies who may turn on us like Trump just turned on Denmark. 

    “might makes right” never went away. There were just a few decades where countries in Europe could pretend it did. 

  10. People aren’t going to like what I’m going to say but we have get rid of our over dependence on us companies we need to invite more eu companies open up shop here we may even need to follow canada and make deals with china to open up manufacturing in ireland the future becoming an international hub that isn’t solely reliant on one country may be the way forward.

  11. Meanwhile have folks called for China to annex Taiwan’s democratically elected government. Might is Right is bullshit, but let’s not overlook everything else happening.

  12. Weekly_One1388 on

    Multi-polar world enjoyers when they get the multi polar world they have always looked for..