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Engaging Everyday Lives in Politics: Reflections from the Edinburgh 1984 Conference

The Edinburgh 1984 Conference revealed how intertwined politics is with everyday lives. Participants explored critical issues like housing, benefits, planning, and transport, while hearing from local leaders such as Shabana Mahmood. Feminist perspectives emerged through discussions on women's health and community dialogues. Attendees highlighted the importance of accessible politics and fun collective action, demonstrating that politics can be engaging, despite its complexity. The conference emphasized the need for personal involvement and critical reflection to foster a healthy democracy rooted in equality and community.

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Engaging Everyday Lives in Politics: Reflections from the Edinburgh 1984 Conference

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  1. The Political is Getting Personal Val Woodward 14th April 2013

  2. Edinburgh 1984 • Exec, housing, benefits, planning, transport • Women’s Committee • Toilets • Miner’s Strike • Cervical cancer screening • Public meetings incl workers at EDC

  3. Politics is boring • We weren’t expecting the trip to be fun, but it really was and I got so involved in everything that was going on

  4. ShabanaMahmood • We visited the MP for Ladywood, who is a shadow minister and we talked about her life and theirs.

  5. Politics • Noisy and incoherent • Impossible demands • Impractical plans • Opportunism • Unmerited fame

  6. Bring politics to life Complex, not simple But part of power inequalities is making it seem inaccessible

  7. Making politics accessible Music and the arts The music really set the atmosphere Us singing was very powerful Need sun, water, soil etc for a tree to grow with fruit to pick. Food (especially cake) is very important

  8. Hidden History in Handsworth • Class • Wealth • Race • Gender • Space, place and community • Fun collective action

  9. Critical Reflection A healthy democracy depends on people thinking and acting Dialogue Everyday lives Not a religion Life and character Muddled and contradictory

  10. Women in Sparkbrook claim they find politics interesting and the local councillor learns a lot • Agency versus being looked after • Paternalistic? • Doing things with, not for, people

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