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New Left

Definition

The New Left was a broad political movement mainly in the 1960s and 1970s consisting of activists in the Western world who campaigned for a range of social issues such as civil and political rights, feminism, gay rights, abortion rights, gender roles and drug policy reforms.

Analogy

Think of the New Left as an updated software version on your phone. Just like how new versions bring fresh features and updates to fix old bugs, this movement sought to address societal issues that weren't adequately handled by previous generations (the "old" left).

Related terms

Counterculture: A way of life and set of attitudes opposed to or at variance with the prevailing social norm; it was particularly strong during the 1960s and early 1970s under influence from the New Left.

Civil Rights Movement: A struggle by African Americans in the mid-1950s to late 1960s aimed at ending racial discrimination and segregation; many members from New Left were involved or influenced by this movement.

Feminism: The advocacy for women's rights based on equality of sexes; it became one major focus within New Left activism.