John Hume represented and pluralist tradition in Irish politics. We get so caught in the revolutionary/constitutional, violence/nonviolence division while looking at the distant and recent past that we neglect the pluralist/anti-pluralist division a bit.

Pluralism in Irish politics goes back through Thomas Davis and the United Irishmen. There has been no lack of constitutional, nonviolent but resolutely anti-pluralist politics in Ireland whether inspired by narrow nationalism, religion, paternalism or now conspirational populism.

The Irish tradition of civic nationalism founded on pluralism is so valuable because it can integrate universal individual civil rights with an acceptance that groups in society are associated by traditions, experiences and aspirations, below the level of the State.

And above the level of the State civic nationalism tends to use the same principles of pluralism to support cooperation, in multilateral organisations and systems. Hume always a committed European, politically, to him the European project was integral to a foundational peace.

There's a turn back in some countries abroad, via radical right and new populist politics, to an oppressive belief that citizens and the State must conform to a narrow conception of "the People". Hungary and Poland are degrading their democratic institutions doing that.

You can have a national community, containing diversity, an inclusive democratic state that reflects that, and a global role

In any case, Hume was a builder, for Derry, Ireland, Europe. He dug foundations for all who follow. Slán le ceann do laochra na hÉireann