Editorial policy statement
Renewal was first published in 1993 in the wake of Labour’s fourth successive general election defeat. Its goal was to contribute to the modernisation of the Labour Party necessary to win at the polls and begin the process of transforming British society. Three successive election victories made it appear that the task of renewing Labour was well and truly achieved, and in one sense it was. The Party changed itself and ended the dismal hegemony of right wing politics. To the extent that Renewal helped to create and sustain the climate for such changes it played an important and positive role.
While Renewal was never a ‘Blairite’ journal, it did genuinely think that Blair and New Labour would open up spaces to reshape and renew social democracy. That turned out to be wrong. There was progress on the democratic and equality agendas, but not enough. In too many areas the job was left unfinished or barely begun. New Labour was not the continuation of neo-liberalism by other means, but it never escaped its shadow, nor fashioned a distinctive and confident governance project. Worse, in its largely cautious, top-down and occasionally downright reactionary approach, it undermined much of the energy and hope for a progressive politics that accompanied its first, historic victory.
In the ideas and policies the journal has sought to promote in recent years, Renewal has tried to develop a broader dialogue on the progressive left. This reflects its long standing view that the real project was only incidentally about modernising Labour. The wider goal was to revitalise the historic purpose of social democracy – to expand the scope of equality, democratic governance and social freedoms within regulated markets. Real modernisation is about the process of reconnecting and reshaping those goals in new social, economic and political contexts. It is against that template that we evaluate the policies and practices of Labour or indeed any organisation. Like most of the left, we hope that a change of leadership can bring back some credibility, integrity and radical intent. We will certainly support any moves in that direction. But if the past years have taught us anything, it is this – we cannot expect Labour to renew and radicalise itself solely from within its own resources.
In 2007, under a fresh editorial team, Renewal made a modest symbolic change in our strapline to a journal of social democracy. We have emphatically not given up on Labour. But the search for a radical, credible governance project has to be based on dialogue, debate and alliances with those on the left and in the wider progressive and labour movements who share our social democratic goals and desire a more transformative political strategy. From that position of strength and independence, Labour and British society can be changed. Renewal will aim to provide a forum that spans the realms of social action, academic research, political activism and policy development. It will continue to develop a critical analysis of existing conditions and current trends, but will also seek to uncover and connect to countervailing forces, emerging alternatives, and new sites of progressive agency. It will remain closely engaged with the future of social democracy in Britain but will increasingly seek to broaden its vision, making sense of global changes and making links with international movements. It will be a space for serious debate, encouraging a productive confrontation of different perspectives and programmes by airing their arguments in their strongest form.
Above all, Renewal will continue to offer a focus and a gathering point for the ideas and analysis necessary to the formulation of a viable and radical political strategy for a twenty-first century left. We invite support, and encourage contributions, from all who share that objective.
