By Nick Dearden GlobalJusticeNow:
Last week Britain voted in the most significant and surprising general
election in modern history. What did we learn and where does this leave
our work for global justice?
1. Mass politics is back
Armies of progressive Britons,
many of them young people, came out to campaign in this election. Young
people recognised that only a massive vote by them would prevent the
Conservative landslide predicted in the polls, and they got involved in
door knocking, delivering leaflets, standing on stalls, organising
rallies and more. It wasn’t all for Labour – young people came out in
huge numbers to support a progressive alliance as well, or other parties
like the Greens and the SNP.
If, like us, you think only mass movements of people can change
things, this bodes well. If these people stay engaged and involved in
campaigning for change, anything is possible. We all have a role to play
in helping them stay active. After all, it was the disaffection,
frustration and anger of young people that gave us the sweeping
political changes of the 1960s.
