new left
C1/C2Formal, Academic, Historical, Political
Definition
Meaning
A political movement that emerged in the 1960s in Western countries, rejecting both traditional Western capitalism and the orthodox communism of the Soviet Union, emphasizing anti-authoritarianism, grassroots democracy, civil rights, and anti-war activism.
Refers broadly to the radical, often youth-led, intellectual and activist movements of the 1960s and 1970s that focused on issues beyond traditional class struggle, such as feminism, racial equality, environmentalism, and sexual liberation. It is also used to distinguish this era of left-wing thought from the 'Old Left' of labor unions and established communist/socialist parties.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
The term is primarily historical, referring to a specific period and set of movements. It is often capitalised. While it can be used descriptively, it frequently carries evaluative connotations, either positive (idealistic, transformative) or negative (naive, disruptive).
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The term is used similarly in both varieties, though its historical referents differ slightly (e.g., British New Left had a stronger Marxist intellectual tradition via journals like 'New Left Review', while the American New Left was more defined by mass movements like SDS and anti-Vietnam War protests).
Connotations
In both, it often connotes the counterculture of the 1960s. In contemporary UK discourse, it might be linked more closely to Eurocommunist and later 'New Labour' intellectual currents. In the US, it is strongly associated with campus activism and the Civil Rights Movement.
Frequency
Higher frequency in academic historical and political science texts than in everyday speech.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
The New Left + singular verb (The New Left was...)New Left + noun (New Left activists, New Left theory)adjective + New Left (radical New Left, intellectual New Left)Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “A product of the New Left”
- “New Left thinking”
- “From the Old Left to the New Left”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Virtually never used.
Academic
Common in history, political science, and sociology to describe mid-20th century political movements and intellectual history.
Everyday
Rare; used mainly by those discussing political history.
Technical
Used as a defined period/category in political theory and historiography.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The thinkers sought to New-Left the party's approach, infusing it with libertarian ideals.
- His work was heavily New-Lefted by the Frankfurt School.
American English
- They attempted to New Left the student union's platform.
- The manifesto clearly New-Lefts traditional Marxist doctrine.
adverb
British English
- The group argued New Left-ly, rejecting both Stalinism and social democracy.
- The policy was conceived rather New Left-ly for its time.
American English
- They organised themselves New Left-ly, without formal hierarchy.
- He interpreted the text New Left-ly, focusing on its anti-authoritarian message.
adjective
British English
- She contributed to a New Left journal throughout the 1970s.
- His New Left sympathies were clear from his writing on participatory democracy.
American English
- The campus had a vibrant New Left atmosphere during the protests.
- He was a key figure in New Left intellectual circles.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The New Left was very active in the 1960s.
- Some of my grandparents' friends were in the New Left.
- The New Left emerged as a critique of both capitalist society and traditional Soviet-style communism.
- Key issues for the New Left included opposition to the Vietnam War and advocacy for civil rights.
- The intellectual underpinnings of the British New Left were significantly shaped by historians like E.P. Thompson and their critique of Stalinism.
- While the New Left fragmented by the late 1970s, its emphasis on identity politics and cultural critique profoundly influenced subsequent social movements.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a 'NEW' protest sign being held aloft on the 'LEFT' side of a 1960s march.
Conceptual Metaphor
POLITICAL MOVEMENTS ARE GENERATIONS (the New Left as the younger, rebellious generation of leftist thought).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not translate as 'Новые Левые' in a modern context without historical qualification, as it specifically refers to the 1960s-70s movements, not contemporary leftist groups. The Russian term 'новые левые' is a direct loan and carries the same historical meaning.
Common Mistakes
- Using lowercase ('new left') when referring specifically to the historical movement.
- Using it to describe any contemporary left-wing movement.
- Confusing it with 'centre-left' or 'modern left'.
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following is most closely associated with the core concerns of the New Left?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. The term 'New Left' specifically refers to the historical movements of the 1950s-1970s. Modern movements may be influenced by it but are not referred to by this term.
The Old Left (early 20th century) focused primarily on economic class struggle, labour unions, and often supported the Soviet Union. The New Left focused on a broader range of issues (race, gender, war, authority), rejected Soviet authoritarianism, and emphasised grassroots, anti-authoritarian activism.
No. It was a loose umbrella term for a diverse array of groups, publications, and individuals who shared a general critique of the existing political order, both capitalist and communist. It included student groups, intellectual journals, and activist networks.
Factors include internal divisions, repression by authorities, the end of the Vietnam War (removing a unifying cause), a turn towards more extreme violence by some factions, and a broader conservative shift in the late 1970s and 1980s.