Exeter

Activism

To follow is a discussion about why people become motivated to get involved in political activity. On the menu bar to the right of this page you will find links to pupil and teacher resources, including themed information pages, questions sheets, lesson plans and audioclips of oral history recordings that relate to the learning material on these pages.

Political Activism - Why?

The citizenship curriculum says that you should be taught about the development of the system of government in the United Kingdom, including the roles of citizens in politics. The curriculum says that you should know about the roles played by voluntary groups in society, and the ways in which citizens work together to improve their communities.

On the other hand, it has been argued that young people are not interested in politics and do not want to play an active role in society.

 

Exeter Election, Declaration of Poll1950 © Plymouth Arts and Heritage Service

The people you are about to listen to all became actively involved in local politics – some of them when they were about your age. Nowadays they might be called political activists. While you are listening to them you might try to work out what it was that inspired or motivated them to get involved. You could also compare their ideas to your own.

To hear their stories click on the audio links on the menu bar to the right of this page.

You can find out more about some of the people behind these stories here:

David Butt

Anita Long

Wendy Miller

Andy Pratt

David Verney

You can now explore motivations for activism a little further using the 'pupil information sheets', starting with D: Motivational Diagram

  • Hear Labour activist Alfred Boom talk about his memories of attending political rallies
  • Listen to David Butt talk about his family's influence on his political beliefs.
  • Hear David Butt talk about the impact of religion on the politics of North Devon
  • Listen to David Butt recall the impact of the Vietnam War on political activism in Devon
  • Hear former Liberal SDP councillor Chris Curry discuss changing levels of community participation in politics
  • Hear Labour Party activist Anita Long talk about how family history motivated her to get involved in politics
  • Listen to David Butt recall his memories of being a member of the Young Liberals during the 1960s
  • Listen to Labour councillor Emma Morse talk about her family's influence on her political identity
  • Hear Green Party activist Andy Pratt talk about what has motivated him to become involved in politics
  • Listen to Green Party activist Wendy Miller talk about her political beliefs
  • Listen to David Verney recall his memories of Jeremy Thorpe's role in reviving the Liberal Party in North Devon

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