Activism: passive or aggressive?

Tuesday, January 20th, 2009

How active is your CF branch? I don’t mean how busy is it, I mean how active is it? Delivering leaflets, canvassing voters and holding socials are all worthy activities – and necessary. But do they advance conservative ideas amongst your peers? Do they grab attention from the student and local media?

The bible of campus activism is the Campus Conservative Battleplan by Patrick X. Coyle of the Young America’s Foundation. This is a call to arms for all campus conservatives. It details stunts and campaigns that can be run on a month by month basis – and is part of the reason why campus activism in America is so much bolder. Of course, there is also a cultural difference. In America, politics is more obvious and people shout about it very loudly. But there is absolutely no reason why the Right can’t take the fight to the Left here in the UK.

Let’s talk about what Coyle calls aggressive activism. This is where conservative groups make a constant effort to challenge the Left’s ideas and to promote their own at every opportunity. You might think that an example of this is to host a sound speaker on campus. But if all you have is a room of conservatives listening to another conservative and agreeing with him, is this activism? The key is to promote the talk to non conservatives, prepare for leftist infiltration, get the media on side and make the event controversial and worthy of interest. Now it becomes aggressive activism, as opposed to passive activism.

Think about stunts, too. A good stunt can be planned and executed in under an hour – and if managed well, can get effective earned media coverage. YBF is running a series of stunts on campuses right now. One of the most effective ones is to host a candle light vigil for the third world victims of the Common Agricultural Policy. 275 people die every hour in the third world thanks to the EU’s trade barriers. A mass of candles and a dozen activists can get this point across very well, and attract significant media coverage of a shocking statistic.

So keep up the delivering, the canvassing and the socials – but ask yourself “can I add a stunt on to the end of a campaign day?” or “how can I get media coverage of my guest speaker?” As ever, YBF is just a phone call away if you want help with any of this. For campaign advice and guidance, call Christian on 07876 708262 or email christian@ybf.org.uk. YBF campaign advice and guidance is available 24/7.