One key element of the Harrogate Agenda is that the movement does not have a defined ‘leader’ and rejects the idea of morphing itself into a political party.
Part of the thinking is that the focus remains on the aims of the movement, allowing every supporter of those aims to have the autonomy to organise meetings and events and support the campaign in a way that suits them.
In this way internal intrigues are thus diminished and autocrats are prevented from seizing the direction of the movement and diverting the energies of supporters to activities that suit a different agenda. It is a reflection of the dwindling trust in political parties among ordinary people.
This shift has accelerated as politics has become ‘professionalised’ to the extent where future party figures are groomed from a young age in party youth sections, read politics and economics at college and then work in think-tanks and policy institutes before being streamed into party candidate selection. Real world experience and a productive employment history is noticeable by its absence among this political class.
With this in mind we notice that another non-aligned, organic, grassroots movement has similarly rejected the idea of electing a leader or forming a political party, while still recognising the need for a government.
Regardless of the cause this movement is pursuing, this is yet another striking example of the rapidly changing approach to politics and campaigning that deliberately marginalises the political parties and strives to keeps them and their influence at arms length.
We are seeing the advent of a new politics, one that operates in a way that encourages people power instead of seeing that stripped away by the political class which hijacks and plunders each passing bandwagon.
People are increasingly joining such campaigns because they have a great deal more confidence that grassroots movements won’t be saddled with the party political baggage and the selfish motivations of power seekers who use politics as a route to personal enrichment and seek reward from the self selecting establishment they inevitably service.
Times are a changing.
Yes and bravo…..it is the only way forward, the usual ‘suspects’ having proved themselves less than worthless…& shamefully dishonest to boot.. It will, though, be no easy task changing the national attitude to the current way of government. Old habits die hard & sometimes never. The mood for change is there & growing but the search for ‘a leader’ is deeply ingrained in the national psyche. Getting the public to understand a new way of thinking will probably be the most difficult task ahead.
Well put. Thank you.
Have you seen this? Ignore the source if possible – there’s some good stuff in there. I hope Dr N sees it. I don’t want to go OT on one of his other threads with it.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2013/jan/03/italy-five-star-movement-internet
That’s a good spot! Thanks for the link. Not everything there fits exactly with Harrogate Agenda, as you would expect, but you’re right there’s some good stuff in there that mirrors what we are doing and adds some useful pointers.
One key element of the Harrogate Agenda is that the movement does not have a defined ‘leader’
Well no, not officially but most would accept that Richard North might be the unstated choice.
Richard offers guidance on certain issues where he has specialist knowledge, but then, Drew offers guidance on others where he has expertise, Peter on yet more and Andy on even more.
It is a group effort and in no way a one-man band. Officially and unofficially there is no leader and there is not choice, unstated or otherwise.