Fresh thinking that provides the policies and ideas to help us move towards a Good Society
The Brexit vote was the biggest single democratic revolution the UK has experienced in decades. In hindsight everyone saw it coming, but at the time the news when it trickled through in the early hours after the close of polling was a seismic shock. It still is. That was because the reasons were...
In this piece, Hannah O’Rourke explores the ways in which our online world is shaping our social interaction - and political awareness. She explains how the use of certain tools incentivises forms of communication and exchange which can run counter to our political values. In response, she...
The Common Platform will build a shared vision, programme and set of alliances for a good society; one that is much more equal, sustainable and democratic. Crucially, it will combine emerging new practice in civil society and the social economy with creative ideas and policy thinking to...
1968 has shaped radical progressive politics perhaps more than any other year. It was a moment when the social movements of women, race and peace, which had been developing throughout the decade, collided with new left thinking and ideas. It was crystalised through mostly student protest on campuses and in cities across the West. As Mark Perryman sets out here, no government fell as a consequence, but space was opened up for a libertarian and non-statist left to flourish. The reverberations of ‘68 continue to ripple through our politics half a century later.
This paper was written to help the Labour Party think through its approach to power so it can build relationships with other parties and forces it is bound to require if it is not just to gain office but have and use power for transformative effect. Equally this was written so that Green,...
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How would a Good Society look and feel? And how do we move towards it? Read our blog, comment, share and get involved in the debate.
With all the talk of a possible general election it is worth reflecting on the possibilities for a Progressive Alliance. The Progressive Alliance (PA) reached maximum recognition at two points – first at the Richmond Park by-election this time two years ago – and then at the subsequent snap...
2018 marks the centenary of the Representation of the People Act which, in 1918 conceded that men aged 21 and above should be allowed to vote and that women should be enfranchised too (provided they were 30 or over and owned property). While it was not until 1928 that all women aged 21 and...
Part 2 showed how division is one of the major mechanisms holding exploitative forms of society in place, and how inequality and oppression function to produce division. Here, we look at a particular form of division-though-inequality: the middle agent mechanism.
The middle agent mechanismTwo and a half years ago the UK saw the biggest democratic revolution of a generation. The vote for Brexit had been a long time coming. Millions of our fellow citizens had been ignored and humiliated for decades. Whatever you think of Brexit, even if you would like to stop it altogether,...
Part 2: division and oppression
Part 1 looked at how individual mistreatment can become self-perpetuating and evolve into structural oppression, and how punishment and blame lock this in place. Part 2 looks the relationship between division and oppression.
DivisionFor thousands of...
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Taking action where you are to make a Good Society a reality
The idea of a progressive alliance (PA) is now entering the mainstream of politics. No single progressive party or movement – on its own – is going to stop the lurch to the right. We are going to need a powerful alliance to change the system so we can change society. The role of...
Join Neal Lawson, Andrew George, Barry Langford and Andree Frieze for the launch of South West Surrey Compass' book A New Way of Doing Politics - working together to challenge a "safe" Tory seat - about their progressive alliance campaign at the General Election. Sign up and buy your copy...
Join Neal Lawson and co-leader of the Green Party Sian Berry to discuss the current status of progressive politics and cross-party co-operation. Hosted by Newham Compass, the event is free to attend and all are welcome. Come be part of the debate!
Britain’s next Government must be a progressive one. And it can’t be shy. We need to radically break away from almost everything the Tory Government stands for. This challenge is too big, too important for one party to have all the answers. This is why we’re inviting progressives from all...
At this meeting, we'll be hosting Austin Mitchell, former Labour MP for Great Grimsby, to talk about the campaign for PR in New Zealand, and its benefits for progressive politics and the country. After decades of neoliberal politics, combativeness and constant infighting in the two main...
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