Please answer the following SEVEN questions to apply to chair a project.
We're inviting members to take part in developing our One Nation ideas series.
With fewer than 600 days to go until the next general election, now is the time to flesh out our vision for 2015. This is the last chance to really impact the choices of the next Labour government, and we believe that it is important that Young Fabians make their voices heard.
The aim of this project is to explore Young Fabian perspectives on the 'isms' that matter to One Nation Labour.
Members are invited to apply to run a project that will look at what what their chosen 'ism' means to Young Fabians, and how this could influence Labour's thinking.
Successful applicants will act as project chair, leading and coordinating the work of their group (made up of Young Fabian members). Chairs will be expected to carry out a variety of research activities, including a minimum of three events, to inform the group's thinking. The output for each group will be a report of 2000 words that will feature as a chapter in a Young Fabian pamphlet that will bring together the whole ideas series.
Project chairs will have the full support of Young Fabian exec members, who will be available to offer guidance and practical help.
The questions are:
- Which 'isms' would you like to cover?
- Why would you like to run a project in this area?
- Please explain the main issues you think the project should consider
- Please give the main objectives of the project
- Please outline three possible events you would run as part of this
- What would you do to engage members across the UK?
- What would you do to make the project interactive for participants?
Showing 45 reactions
A: Participation is vital for this project and the growth of social media must be exploited to expand and develop the initial ideas. I would set up a Facebook page which would ask for contributions, be them ideas or personal tales that individually summarise patriotism. It would be a portal for sharing ideas and creating a debate between members. It would also promote events and crucially bring these events to a wider audience.
I would also set up a twitter account that would tweet any relevant news stories or opinion pieces that promote the collective ideal of patriotism, Fabian events, Labour and wider political news. I would also generate a hashtag to draw attention to the project and once again encourage participation.
A: Patriotism is in itself engaging and transcends London and the South East. I would contact other Fabian groups such as the one in Manchester and ask them to contribute to the project. It is important to highlight that personal, local issues transcend their locality and are in fact national issues which One Nation Labour endeavours to listen and ultimately address. Local issues like shortage of housing, unemployment and shoddy, unequal wages are not restricted to certain postcodes but are in fact national epidemics. Patriotism acknowledges the intimate detriment alongside the wider issues and seeks to address both. It is also vital to state that the last Labour administration promoted regional growth, for example moving the BBC to Bristol and Salford.
A: 1. In Conversation with Danny Boyle: Boyle’s opening ceremony was a celebration of what that swarmed the nation during those balmy August weeks. It is my idea to have a talk centred on the contagious sense of patriotism he conjured. Also ask what being a patriot means to him. And 2-3 three years after the Olympics what he thinks has happened, if anything, to the sense of collective participation and everyday heroes he championed in the ceremony, and the Olympics embraced as a wider conversation.
2. *Film club: A monthly film club, showing films that celebrate the best of British and Britain. The list is quite extensive. The initial screening would be:
– The Spirit of ‘45¬ – Ken Loach – a film about the power of collectivism following the War and the building of Labour’s ‘New Jerusalem’.
3) – Workshop day: What patriotism means to you? – Patriotism is an inclusive term and this event would be vital in gaging what the wider population understand by patriotism. The ideas would be taken and used to influence my work for the project, making it a collaborative endeavour, the very essence of one nation patriotism.
A: The ultimate objective of this project has to be to enable Labour to be seen as a party of patriots. For so long Labour has been seen as the party that hates Britain, witness the Daily Mail Ralph Miliband horrors. However, despite this belief it is Labour that has given the population the institutions and opportunities to thrive, see the NHS and expansion of universities.
It is for Labour to offer a new model of society; one that is diametrically opposed to brutal individualism and winner takes all ideology of the last forty years. Labour has to be the party of hope, collective endeavour and pride in the nation; three ideas at the very core of patriotism.
A: *Patriotism and the building of a Better Britain – Ed Balls at Fabian Conference recalled the past successes of the party when stating his vision for the future. He spoke of rebuilding Britain, not simply using policy as a reaction to news, but creating an active government that supports Britain, whether it be improving an ailing infrastructure or promoting British business abroad. He also promised to safeguard the things that Britons are most proud of, such as the NHS.
*Patriotism in a multicultural society – this is where it the difference between patriotism and nationalism really must be stressed; patriotism celebrates multiculturalism rather than use it to divide. Labour, as the champion of a multicultural society, stands for inclusivity. One Nation Labour unites and acknowledges that it is the ordinary relationships within the racially plural communities of the nation that are key to reshaping society.
*Patriotism and the referendums – One Nation Labour should be a passionate advocate of both a United Kingdom and European membership. It was Labour that found the perfect mix for promoting the unique identities of each nation whilst promoting the Union, as it created the Scottish Parliament and Welsh assembly. Within Europe, Labour must stand for unity not an exit. Being a member of the European Union does not diminish Britishness but rather permits national development as European money is vital in developing regional infrastructure, business relationships and an ever adapting collective security. Labour is about unity and national cooperation, not historical conceitedness.
A: I would like to run a project in this area as I think that patriotism and nationalism have been toxically tangled. They both conjure the same imagery; combative and casts citizens as civilians devoid of any autonomy in the relentless search to slay contemporary dragons.
I counter this with the proposition that patriotism is a celebration of a nation’s virtue coupled with a pragmatic acknowledgement that deficiencies exist and an inherent desire to correct these. I feel that Labour are most likely to win the next election if they put forward a social patriotism and collective reward at its very heart.
I think the very essence of patriotism is collectivism, a notion that underpins the Labour Party. I want to run this project as I think that patriotism needs to be transformed into a positive concept embraced by the left, not simply ignored or looked past. Patriotism is an ‘ism’ that should animate not terrify.
A: Together with the Facebook & Twitter accounts dedicated to the project, which will go some way in helping it be interactive, previous YF projects have had great success with Online Debates. As Chair, I would be happy and keen for this project to follow suit.
That being said, I would like to attempt to go further. There are a number of excellent regional Fabian Societies throughout the UK, which are under-utilised in these kinds of studies. There are also a huge number of excellent Labour Student Societies in Universities up and down the country, as well as other Labour discussion groups that would – if properly engaged – be more than happy to carry out informal workshops dedicated to this study. Through ‘regional workshops’, we can go some way in to including localism in to this study of patriotism.
There are, of course, a number of issues with this, which would render this endeavour difficult (or even impossible): I would struggle to travel to many areas and so would only be able to lead workshops in the East of England – limited to the likes of Suffolk Fabians and the UEA Labour Society, for instance. So, these workshops would need to be worked out in detail before contacting any regional groups – whilst I am experienced as a remote/virtual organiser, it would be a difficult undertaking.
Nevertheless, it would be a good way to achieve the aims of both engaging members and making the project interactive.
A: I would like to utilise Social Media as much as possible. Perhaps establishing a Twitter account (called, for want of a better name, “@fabianpatriots”), together with a Facebook page dedicated to this study – with news of events, progress updates etc. A dedicated Twitter account – properly endorsed by the Young Fabians – is an excellent way to gather a huge amount of honest feedback, as well as keeping members up-to-date on the Project’s events etc. I would like to set up a questionnaire that can be accessed via the Facebook page, which would be a good way to encourage both engagement and gather additional info for the study.
A: Three events, each with the over-arching theme of “Inclusive Patriotism”: a popular Patriotism for One-Nation Labour.
Event 1: ‘Patriotism without the “Other”: how can an ’Inclusive Patriotism’ appeal and unite a modern multi-cultural Britain?’
This event must take both international & domestic viewpoints, and include representatives of BAME & LGBT, as well as alternative religions. In addition, I would like to hear the opinion of the White British Community, which, whilst remaining the most numerous in the UK, often feels the most neglected – with a higher proportion of White, middle-aged Britons (especially White English) more likely to vote for UKIP out of frustration.
So a panel discussion of at least 5 speakers is necessary, with each group represented as best as possible. The discussion will be focused around the principle question:
What does it mean to be patriotic for BAME, LGBT, Naturalised, Islamic/Christian/Atheist or White British Communities in Modern Britain?
The main pitfalls that must be negotiated in this event are that the issues are very complex and the panel is potentially hectic. It will be necessary to gather a diverse audience for the discussion in order for it to be inclusive.
Event 2: ‘Monarchy & Republic in Left-Wing Patriotism: can an ’Inclusive Patriotism’ accept both?
An ‘Open Forum’ style debate, with Monarchists, Republicans and ‘neutrals’ each sitting under their category and contributing to the debate. A few experts must, of course, be invited if possible, but I see this as an intriguing opportunity to gain an insight in to the pluralism of the British Left-Wing on this issue. Ultimately, the event must revolve around the question: can a popular, Left-Wing ‘Inclusive Patriotism’ encapsulate Monarchism, Republicanism and ‘none of the above’?
There are potential problems in that the issues are often emotive and dealing with larger crowds could be troublesome. It also requires a venue with the capacity to hold this kind of event.
Event 3: ‘The Lines That Divide; The Ties That Bind: British National Divisions and its impact on British Patriotism.’
Another panel discussion, with representatives from all Nations of Britain. There is a complication in that I would ideally like to see both Union and Independence interests present for both Wales & Scotland. However, the panel easily becomes too big and unmanageable in this scenario. Therefore, with the impending referendum and the overall relevance of the Scottish Independence debate on British politics in general, it will be necessary to have members of both the ‘Yes’ Campaign (possibly even from Labour for Independence) and the ‘Better Together’ campaign.
The principle issue being debated is how the UK’s national divisions effect any sense of the ‘whole’ and whether an ‘Inclusive Patriotism’ can fit in to a Britain that has four main parts, with substantial devolution in each. Can an ‘Inclusive British Patriotism’ for the Left survive & include Scottish Independence?
This event MUST NOT be held in London. The venue and event would preferably be arranged in conjunction with the Scottish Fabians – who could act as our hosts.
All events have potential to link in to the excellent work undertaken thus far by IPPR North in their “Englishness” research series, as well as the work being undertaken by Labour: Coast & Country in their work to counter UKIP – so, it may be possible to bring LCC contacts & resources to bare for these events.
All events I have outlined above are best described as “thoughts” and are, of course, subject to radical change (not to mention complete redrawing).
A: The main objective for this project is the search for the definition of a popular “Left-Wing British Patriotism”. Much good work has been done with the creation of ‘One Nation Labour’ under Ed Miliband, which has promoted the concept of responsibility and localism in Government, both socially and economically. However, this does not go far enough in offering a definition of patriotism that can offer an alternative to the right.
As I have explained in the previous question, dealing with the complex nature of any kind of Patriotism that fits in to left-wing politics & modern British sensibilities is a key issue and must be met as an important project objective.
As such, the project must take in to account and include in its research the UK’s national divisions; the importance of local or regional outlook; the nature of modern Britain; and the spectrum of left-wing political thinking.
And so, an objective of this project must be to attempt to deal with the ambivalent nature of patriotism and make it something coherent – what is required is what could be termed “Inclusive Patriotism”. Or, putting it another way, explaining in words what Danny Boyle communicated non-verbally in 2012.
A: A main issue this project would have to consider is the fact that ‘patriotism’ is a vague idea to grasp and define. This is especially the case for the left, as the very concept of patriotism, usually in the form of a more simplistic or jingoistic nationalism, has long been the reserve of the right-wing. So much of the Conservative or UKIP appeal is wrapped up in a nationalistic patriotism – mostly cloaked in the xenophobic fear of the ‘other’ and/or in the veneer of a rural idyll that does not exist (but is, nonetheless, a key aspect of the concept of Britishness in the popular imagination). This is, in itself, very much in keeping with the right-wing hijack of patriotism that has occurred in British politics since at least as far back as the Thatcher Government, only made worse by the BNP and, more recently, the EDL (and, of course, UKIP).
And yet, the right-wing monopoly on patriotism is fundamentally flawed:
Any former patriotic verve the Conservative Party could justifiably lay claim to has been overruled and made redundant by their collective obsession with the free-market, which so frequently runs counter to the needs of the people or the benefit of the state; likewise, UKIPs obsession with the free-market, with the open threat of full NHS privatisation, runs against popular national pride.
However, the very nature of left-wing politics, as well as modern Britain itself, renders patriotism ambivalent. The ideal of “my country, right or wrong” is something that is now popularly recognised as dangerous and undesirable. What is more, the Monarchy is not enough to base or focus patriotic zeal for the left – whilst many may hold it in high regard, many others may see the Monarchy as at best an anachronism or at worst a hindrance to progress and democracy. Likewise, the decline of older Christian religions, which enjoyed a traditional input into British patriotic fervour, the influx of new religions (such as Islam), and the growth of Humanism and Atheism have added to the ambivalence.
Thus, based on these summations, left-wing patriotism is something that is not unquestioning or uncritical of Britain, its people or its Government, but can not be entirely centred around Monarchy, Republicanism or religion of any description either. In addition, unlike right-wing forms of patriotism, that can focus on xenophobia as a means of defining “Britishness”, the left is generally inclusive of other religions, races, creeds and the EU.
What adds further complexity to any sense of patriotism is the fact that Great Britain is not one nation, but (at least) 4. So within British patriotism is pride in one’s individual nation of origin – “I am proud to be Scottish”, “I am proud to be Welsh”, “I am proud to be English”. So it goes without saying that this study must take in to account the arguments for & against independence, not just from Scotland, but from Wales also.
Still further, association with an individual area has a tendency to take precedence over any sense of British Patriotism – “I am a Norfolk-man and I am British”, “I am a Geordie and I am British”, I am a Yorkshireman and I am British”.
All this being said, in recent times we have seen the purest celebration of an inclusive, popular left-wing patriotism in the form of the 2012 Olympic Opening Ceremony. So, navigation of these issues is possible. Nonetheless, dealing with this complexity is the main issue that the project must consider.
A: The subject of patriotism is important to me on a number of different levels, both professionally and personally. I am the Co-ordinator for Labour: Coast & Country, a new initiative within the Labour Party, which is focused upon the rural and coastal periphery. As such, we consider ourselves to be on the front-line in the fight against UKIP and intend – once we have the capacity – to launch a publication on this issue. That being the case, there is a great deal of cross-over in these projects and I can draw upon research and experience for each.
More importantly, I am a patriot and immensely proud to be British. The fact that such patriotism has been hijacked by the right in the popular imagination is the cause of both concern and profound frustration for me – and I’m sure other left-wing patriots feel similarly. I believe that Labour can become the party of the patriotic Brit and I wish to do all I can to aid that endeavour.
A: Patriotism
A: Patriotism
A: The project should be entirely interactive and be about critically listening and distilling the views & positions of members. The membership should drive the project as far as possible and offer, or at least develop, the ideas that come out of the project.
A: It would make sense to host at least one event outside of London. The Labour Party offices in Newcastle would make the city a suitable location. It would be good to speak with members of the exec about whether expenses would be available for members’ travel in certain situations.
Another possibility is to invite ‘written submissions’- like a consultation- at certain points and to offer surveys to encourage engagement from members outside the London & South East area.
A: I would like to consider this with a member/members of the executive to take on their guidance. In terms of initial thoughts, I would consider:
1. At least one roundtable event with YF members with expertise/interest in this area
2. At least one event with talks from relevant professionals (ie Maurice Glasman etc) and questions/discussion
3. A ‘hustings of ideas’, where members of a panel could each put forward a particular policy suggestion or ideological framework, and respond to questions on it
A: The main outcome would be the final issue on the last question: 9 policies we would like to see the Labour Party adopt. These would be based on feedback and discussions at events with YF members.
Along the way, other objectives would be:
1. Evaluation of where One Nation sits/should sit ideologically, or whether it is even relevant to talk any more in terms of ideology and the capitalism/socialism dichotomy
2. Bringing together academics in the party to reflect on matters of ideology, and to examine whether Labour truly has a ‘vision’ for the country, and what that vision looks/should look like
3. To generally bring YF members and politicians together; to encourage free thinking & networking, and give YF members and opportunity to contribute to policy discussions in a meaningful way
A: There is a sense in which I believe these projects should be allowed to take their own course; in as much as it’s important to address narratives that emerge from early discussions even if you hadn’t originally anticipated them to come up. I do however feel it is worth having a good structure to start with, and here are the early questions I would seek to address:
1. How do you/do you at all identify ideologically (capitalism/socialism/libertarianism/communism/anarchism…)?
2. What is the relevance of ideology to ordinary voters, and how do we translate issues like capitalism/socialism to policy messages which connect with the public?
3. Is it preferable to have a functional government or an ideologically ethical/moral government (ie would we sacrifice growth for equality)? How can we make ethical indicators part of how we assess how functional a govt is?
4. Where does ‘One Nation’ Labour sit in ideological terms? Where are the key themes?
5. What are the 3 key policy areas most important to the One Nation Capitalism/Socialism theme, and in each of these three areas, which three policies would we like to see the Labour Party adopt?
A: With a background in political philosophy (my degree) this is an area of great interest to me. I fear British politics has lost its sense of vision, and that progressive politics in particular has become a management exercise rather than a commitment to a bold and complete vision of a ‘better society’. I also believe the terms left and right are increasingly losing their value, and am interested to hear from YF members and politicians about how (or indeed whether) they identify ideologically. More to the point, I am curious about how people relate to the ‘One Nation’ theme, and whether this relationship is ideological, perhaps ‘instinctual’, or otherwise.
A: Utilise social media
run competitions
have inclusive discussions
perhaps host a webinar so people across the country, not just London can get involved
A: Engage with social media
Contact IR, Politics and East Asian departments across the country
Run competitions
A: A roundtable bringing together academics within the field of defence, IR and East Asia to guide the conclusions of the project.
An event to cover the recent history of the region with key speakers in order to raise the profile of the project.
A Reception to launch the report in Parliament
A: To establish possible options to guide the British response to international changes in the East Asia.
A: military powers – Russia, China, the US, Japan (re militarisation), North Korea.
the South China Sea disputes between China and Japan.
The re militarisation of Japan given the increased threats from North Korea.
A: I’m thoroughly interested in East Asia. China has seen massive growth in recent years and many people have raised concerns about her growing influence, not only economically but also militarily. With US military attention moving to the Asian Pacific and further away from Europe it is essential that we examine what it means for Britain.
A: By doing events/activies which do not need to be centralised and therefore can take part from their homes. It is also driven by them, through community-based projects. This means that my role would be a facilitator for different interests to come together. The guide and plan will ultimately be down to the participants in order to gain the widest amount of perspectives.
A: Feminism, at its core, is one of action-led prinicples in research. Therefore I would like to work with community groups, local government and so on to create locally-generated policies and ideas that can be set as exemplars. Therefore as previously mentioned, I think holding at least one event in the north of England would be highly beneficial to show regional disparities in feminism (after all I am social geographer by training, plus being a not-so-old northerner). Also through events such as living on low-paid wages can show how feminism can impact the lives of individuals – such as through the video-diary idea that can be taken by members across the UK without the need for travel.
A: 1. The Gendered Pay-Gap – this would be more of an experiment where individuals do a week-long spend on a variety of low-paid budgets for men and women. From this I would like to create some form of media demonstrating how they coped with surviving on low pay between genders. This would then hopefully lead to some form of discussion-based event on the experience of the individuals who take part.
2. One event in the North – possibly around the theme of young working class white men. Trying to establish a community event where we help bring together some form of action on skills and education. This is to demonstrate the potential feminism has on individuals under a ‘One-Nation’ banner
3. A cross ‘One-Nation’ event where we have rotating discussions and workshops in order to gain a sense of how the ‘isms’ work into a unified project near the end.