Can internet networks change politics?

The eagle eyed among you will notice that I have carefully doctored the question that’s on everyone’s mind – or at least those minds that have been exposed to the latest edition of the marvelous Young Fabians member mag, Anticipations – ‘Can the internet change politics?’. Selfishly shifting the goalposts to suit my own area of responsibility, I want to dig a little deeper about the potential for the power of networks…

Can they change politics? “Yes, but”. Yes, the power of online networks can be enormous… But, only if members of the network foster their own dynamism in their own online space.

As strategic planning would have it, the Young Fabian team have skillfully dovetailed the publication of the Antics ‘new media’ special with the launch of our very own new media offering – two dedicated Young Fabian online networks, hosted on Ning.net.

‘The Future of Finance’ network (http://youngfabians-networks-fof.ning.com), for progressives interested in the role of finance and society; and ‘The Technology and Society’ network (http://youngfabians-networks-tsociety.ning.com), to help bridge the gap between technology, science, engineering and progressive politics.

We will be formally launching the two Networks before the election. Our intention is for both networks to provide a vibrant forum for people to write, blog, discuss, create and lead innovative progressive projects on the issues that they find interesting.

Networks are open to Fabians and non-Fabians and aim to enable as much sharing of insights and collaboration as possible; focused on one particular issue or sector. New media is about empowerment and that is exactly what the Networks seek to do in a constructive and influential manner. Both finance and technology are topics where the Left has historically been weak and where the networks could contribute a huge amount to progressive thinking.

Providing an opportunity for empowerment for Young Fabian members and progressives is only half the story. Creating a dynamic and compelling online environment will require something extra… you. So, if you like the sound of what you’re reading, follow the links to find out more and get involved – join the networks and contribute something. I look forward to seeing what you have to say.

Nick Maxwell
Networks and Schools Officer.

The Young Fabians need you!

Cartoons have been a part of politics for as long as politicians. Their popularity is about far more than aesthetics. A great cartoon can highlight an issue or satarise the powerful in ways that few articles can.

Watching Blair’s evidence at the Chilcott Inquiry, for example, I was reminded of Gerald Scarfe’s famous cartoon of the former Prime Minister. Grumpy and weighed down with Iraq’s ball and chain, it stripped Blair of his slick gloss in a way that no committee – however distinguished – could.

The current edition of Anticipations – which will be hitting members doorsteps in the coming days – contains the first ever Young Fabians cartoon (see above). Placed above the Message from the Editor, it captures my view that British politicians have been left behind online. I argue that WebCameron – which is supposed to represent the best our politicians can offer – is little more than the moving picture equivalent of a set piece ministerial speech or top line briefing. Labour should learn the real lessons of the web and use its power to give people meaningful control over the public services that shape their lives.

I want to include more cartoons in future magazines – so this is a call to arms! If you’re a cartoonist and would like to contribute to a future edition of Anticipations, to paraphrase the words beneath perhaps the most famous political cartoon of them all, we need you! Please get in touch.

Also, we’re including Letters to the Editor in the next edition of Anticipations.  Let me know your thoughts about the cartoon and anything else in the magazine. Did you passionately disagree with any of the contributors? Did you strongly support the position of an article? If so, let me know.

We’re always looking to make Anticipations even better. If you have any ideas for how it could be improved, whether it’s new sections, features or topics, we want to hear from you.

I hope you enjoy reading the magazine!

James Green

Anticipations Editor

Anticipations goes to print

This year I took over the reigns of our quarterly magazine, Anticipations, from Alex Baker. They were big boots to fill. Alex has transformed Anticipations over the past few years, giving it a professional look that could hold its own on any newsstand. 

Putting the magazine together has been an incredible but challenging task. From securing engaging contributions to designing a professional looking publication, from ensuring that we had strong images to getting it all printed, it has been a steep learning curve to say the least! Last night the magazine went to print and it will be hitting Young Fabian members’ doorsteps at the beginning of February.

The topic of the edition couldn’t be more current. With many predicting that the next General Election will be the first to be fought online, Anticipations asks ‘Can the Internet Change Politics?’  With contributors including Sarah Brown, Ben Bradshaw MP, Tom Harris MP, LabourList’s Alex Smith and many others – including a good number of Young Fabian members – it should be a really interesting read.

We’re always looking for new ways to make Anticipations even better. If you have any ideas for new features, topics or contributors please don’t hesitate to get in touch.

I hope you enjoy the magazine!

Giving up Antics

Since 2006 I’ve been contributing to the journal of the Young Fabians -Anticipations – not just in terms of its written output, but also in terms of its look and feel, and the shape of its content – first, as an editorial assistant to former executive member Emma Carr, and since 2007 as Editor.

Last autumn, I decided that two years as Editor was more than enough for one individual, and that Anticipations would benefit from a change in approach that would come with new personnel. In November, James Green was appointed the new Editor following the Young Fabian Executive ballot.

I’ve been working closely with James on his first issue since then, guiding him through the pain and pleasure of working with publishing and photo editing software so that he, and the entire Executive, can bring you the first issue of this Executive year by the beginning of February.

This morning we received a draft pdf of that issue, on the topic of new media and politics, and it is looking fantastic.

My attention has now turned to how we can maximise new media to increase the offering of the Young Fabians to its members, and to the debates we need as we head into a new Parliamentary cycle. If you have any ideas yourself, then please let me know.

Anticipations Winter 2008/9 – MDGs

The Winter edition of Anticipations was finally sent to print this week, and should be with members within the next fortnight or so.

The focus is on the MDGs, including a special contribution from Save The Children.

Thanks to all contributors. Feel free to continue the debate online, or in future editions of the journal. The Spring 2009 edition will focus on life after Kyoto. If you would like to contribute, then read this and get in touch.

Anticipations Winter 2008/9 Cover

Anticipating Anticipations

Whoever said editing Anticipations was an easy task?

The Winter 2008 edition is coming on well, but it’s quarter to midnight and I’m still working on the design. It’s possible there will be some more late nights before we finally go to print…

The next edition should be with you in early February – do look out for it (it’s on the MDGs). And don’t forget it’s your journal, so please provide feedback on how we’re doing. And why not give writing an article a go? Details for how to go about it are on the Young Fabian website here.

Exciting new blog, exciting year ahead

I feel very privileged to be the first person ever to blog for the Young Fabians. Thanks must go to Sam Strudwick, the YF’s excellent web editor, for bringing our blog into existence. It’s not the only new blog on the left this week, as you may have noticed …

I thought I’d use this first post just to say a bit about what the Young Fabians are up to at the moment. On Sunday, in the slightly cold basement seminar room of the Fabian Society HQ, we held our co-options meeting. I’ll speak on behalf of the whole Executive Committee in saying that we were hugely impressed by the high standard of YF members who put themselves forward and we had some difficult discussions in deciding who to co-opt. We are delighted with the 5 choices we made though, and on a personal level I’m really excited about us now having an Equalities Officer. I’m sure you’ll hear more soon as these 5 new members of the Exec get to work.

We followed this up with our first Exec meeting of 2009. There are exciting plans afoot. After taking 80 YF and Labour Staff Network members over to Ohio for the final few days of Obama’s campaign, I’m now leading on the follow-up work around the lessons we learnt and how we can bring these back into Labour campaigns around the UK. And – you heard it here first – watch out for details soon of our inauguration celebration. There’s a new edition of Anticipations not too far away, a speech from James Purnell and the schools project is going from strength to strength. Vice-Chair, David Chaplin, presented a paper on how we can move forward our excellent policy work from last year.

Exciting stuff. Hopefully this blog will prove a good way for you to let us know your ideas for what you’d like to see the Young Fabians doing in the coming months.