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By *bbandflow OP Couple
over a year ago
South Devon |
Got to thinking, having been in contact with an old friend from University days, and it being that time of year when starting or returning to Uni, what happened, or what led to the demise of radical/ far left student politics.
Back in the mid eighties when I was at uni part of the daily routine was to be accosted outside the library/refectory/canteen by a leaflet bearing Marxist/neo Marxist/socialist workers party 'worker'
Of course there are student protests now, but they invariably revolve around single issues, like tuition fees, not a radical/far left take on global politics.
Is it because far/left politics maybe have ceased to have any plausibility in the world of practical politics, and the majority of today's students understand that ? |
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By *obbygggMan
over a year ago
Birmingham |
"Got to thinking, having been in contact with an old friend from University days, and it being that time of year when starting or returning to Uni, what happened, or what led to the demise of radical/ far left student politics.
Back in the mid eighties when I was at uni part of the daily routine was to be accosted outside the library/refectory/canteen by a leaflet bearing Marxist/neo Marxist/socialist workers party 'worker'
Of course there are student protests now, but they invariably revolve around single issues, like tuition fees, not a radical/far left take on global politics.
Is it because far/left politics maybe have ceased to have any plausibility in the world of practical politics, and the majority of today's students understand that ? "
They eventually grow up and drop the pretence of being a radical and grasp as much as they can get. |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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"Got to thinking, having been in contact with an old friend from University days, and it being that time of year when starting or returning to Uni, what happened, or what led to the demise of radical/ far left student politics.
Back in the mid eighties when I was at uni part of the daily routine was to be accosted outside the library/refectory/canteen by a leaflet bearing Marxist/neo Marxist/socialist workers party 'worker'
Of course there are student protests now, but they invariably revolve around single issues, like tuition fees, not a radical/far left take on global politics.
Is it because far/left politics maybe have ceased to have any plausibility in the world of practical politics, and the majority of today's students understand that ? "
They all grew up and became ceo's of Halifax, Rbs, Tsb and so on! |
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By *bbandflow OP Couple
over a year ago
South Devon |
"Got to thinking, having been in contact with an old friend from University days, and it being that time of year when starting or returning to Uni, what happened, or what led to the demise of radical/ far left student politics.
Back in the mid eighties when I was at uni part of the daily routine was to be accosted outside the library/refectory/canteen by a leaflet bearing Marxist/neo Marxist/socialist workers party 'worker'
Of course there are student protests now, but they invariably revolve around single issues, like tuition fees, not a radical/far left take on global politics.
Is it because far/left politics maybe have ceased to have any plausibility in the world of practical politics, and the majority of today's students understand that ?
They all grew up and became ceo's of Halifax, Rbs, Tsb and so on!"
Haha..probably true, but why is this generation not radicalised? |
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Politics in general and to people in general has become less important through a variety of reasons that would necessitate another thread.
I'm sure students of today are more concerned with getting on with their studies that are costing them a lot of money as well as some socialising. |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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Maybe its because most have realised,that its a rich mans game.
Any hope of changing anything radically, has little hope of working in today's economics.
Politics is almost 100% right wing these days,just the parties differ by small amounts.
Its a case of "if you cant beat them,join them" unfortunately.
With todays media on your side,you can convince the population,it wasnt your fault its all gone wrong, even when it was.
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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Perhaps it's a reflection of the disengagement of young voters from politics
Since the 80's politics has become the domain of the unprincipled, career politician desiring power only for the sake of power - and if refer to all political parties in that
I struggle to think of many politicians who base their beliefs on ethical & moral principles |
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By *obbygggMan
over a year ago
Birmingham |
Might also be the amount of exposure of socalled lefties. I.e all union leaders earning a fortune/huge pensions and big expense accounts. They've seen through the sheer hypocrisy. Might be more savvy than previous generations."Won't get fooled again" |
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By *bbandflow OP Couple
over a year ago
South Devon |
"Perhaps it's a reflection of the disengagement of young voters from politics
Since the 80's politics has become the domain of the unprincipled, career politician desiring power only for the sake of power - and if refer to all political parties in that
I struggle to think of many politicians who base their beliefs on ethical & moral principles "
Maybe that's not such a bad thing, most of the twentieth century politics was dominated by those with their version of belief and principles...it cost millions of lives.
ps no probs slipping back to the 80's re boobs..lol |
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I think a lot of the decreased political leanings at uni etc follow on from the growth in people becoming more isolated as individuals. The individual is king/queen and society has been viewed as less important. Younger people are now somewhat the product of that focus on the self, at the cost (and who cares what damn cost) to others.
Most student unions are now more interested in organising pub crawls than improving standards, but that's a reflection partly on their members, as the students union is but a collective representation of all the students. |
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By *obbygggMan
over a year ago
Birmingham |
Odd though really. There has been a substantial increase of "working class" students in the student population and the decrease in socialist activity at universities.Maybe the "wsorking class" have less of a social conscience than the so called "middle class". |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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"
Back in the mid eighties when I was at uni part of the daily routine was to be accosted outside the library/refectory/canteen by a leaflet bearing Marxist/neo Marxist/socialist workers party 'worker'
"
they became stand up comics and then media luvvies |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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I think that some students are brilliant with politics and yet some will only get to grips with it after a long spell in the world, but the right to free speech and how you catch attention - without trying to come off as a nob or exclusive and condescending to others that are there to learn - is not something that is welcome in many places today, especially as people want more and more to keep a low profile and not get in trouble for provoking any negative thoughts and feelings.
IMO |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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Sheer apathy. We're more knowledgeable about politics due to the media (bias).
It doesn't take anyone long to realise no matter who is in power, the politicians always fail to deliver their election promises, and any problems whilst they are in power is normally down to the previous government (which is irony it itself when a party wins for a second or third term  ) |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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"Sheer apathy. We're more knowledgeable about politics due to the media (bias).
It doesn't take anyone long to realise no matter who is in power, the politicians always fail to deliver their election promises, and any problems whilst they are in power is normally down to the previous government (which is irony it itself when a party wins for a second or third term )"
Absolutely right! |
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By *bbandflow OP Couple
over a year ago
South Devon |
"Odd though really. There has been a substantial increase of "working class" students in the student population and the decrease in socialist activity at universities.Maybe the "wsorking class" have less of a social conscience than the so called "middle class"."
Seems to be a paradox there..good spot! |
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By *bbandflow OP Couple
over a year ago
South Devon |
"Sheer apathy. We're more knowledgeable about politics due to the media (bias).
It doesn't take anyone long to realise no matter who is in power, the politicians always fail to deliver their election promises, and any problems whilst they are in power is normally down to the previous government (which is irony it itself when a party wins for a second or third term )"
Doesn't really address the question though, which is why far left student politics has largely disappeared from campuses..back in the eighties they were under no illusion that governments, including Labour, had ever delivered on promises yet were far from apathetic. |
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"Odd though really. There has been a substantial increase of "working class" students in the student population and the decrease in socialist activity at universities.Maybe the "wsorking class" have less of a social conscience than the so called "middle class"."
or a better work ethic whereby they are more likely to crack on and achieve to their potential..
onward and upward..
if mater and pater are high and mighty and one fucks up ones Uni 'experience' there may be a slot in the company, on the estate or a place as a researcher in the Palace of Westminster..
for most working class kids who fuck it up the possible career prospects post Uni may not be so cushy or 'cushty'.. |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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"Sheer apathy. We're more knowledgeable about politics due to the media (bias).
It doesn't take anyone long to realise no matter who is in power, the politicians always fail to deliver their election promises, and any problems whilst they are in power is normally down to the previous government (which is irony it itself when a party wins for a second or third term )
Doesn't really address the question though, which is why far left student politics has largely disappeared from campuses..back in the eighties they were under no illusion that governments, including Labour, had ever delivered on promises yet were far from apathetic."
I think the apathy is viral. |
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By *nnyMan
over a year ago
Glasgow |
"Odd though really. There has been a substantial increase of "working class" students in the student population and the decrease in socialist activity at universities.Maybe the "wsorking class" have less of a social conscience than the so called "middle class".
or a better work ethic whereby they are more likely to crack on and achieve to their potential..
onward and upward..
if mater and pater are high and mighty and one fucks up ones Uni 'experience' there may be a slot in the company, on the estate or a place as a researcher in the Palace of Westminster..
for most working class kids who fuck it up the possible career prospects post Uni may not be so cushy or 'cushty'.. "
It's difficult to fuck up completely nowadays. Almost everyone gets at least a Desmond 'cos uni's are ranked at every opportunity. Plus, a repeated year costs another £9,000 ish. |
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