The impact of austerity on social activism

Social activism, or collaborating with others to instigate social change arguably illustrates more than any other area of work the social consequences of austerity measures. This chapter is based on qualitative research conducted in the UK over a period of 13 years (2004-2017), or prior to the financial crisis through to after the Brexit referendum. Austerity measures implemented after the financial crisis in 2007-08 exacerbated the divisions and tensions but did not instigate them. They had been developing for decades and only became sharper with New Labour (1997-2010) and austerity measures (2010-present). The chapter examines how austerity has amplified social divisions linked to place, education, employment, and income but also led to a greater politicization of social action. Much of public debate over the past five years has focused on populist politics, which deliberately fuels tensions based on income, education, age, sexuality, race, nationality, and religion. A second, less discussed, and converse effect has been the rise of a social activism reliant on cooperation across diverse groups that deliberately reclaims liberal values and the moral imperative of social responsibility.