Corbyn’s Momentum: social movement or something else?

Abstract

Throughout its existence, Momentum has defined itself as a ‘movement’. So far, researchers have generally taken this categorisation as a starting point when analysing its organisational nature. For example, it has been labelled as a ‘movement faction’ (Dennis, 2019) or ‘party-driven movement’ (Muldoon and Rye, in Conceptualising party-driven movements, 2020). Indeed, in terms of its nature and function, Momentum straddles different types of organisational models, drawing from several different traditions within political and community activism. Differences are also apparent between Momentum’s earlier and later development as well as between the national organisation and local branches. This article accordingly questions the extent to which ‘movement’ is an accurate descriptor of the organisation. Drawing upon ethnographic research undertaken during the final stages of Corbyn’s leadership of the Labour Party in 2018 and 2019, it argues that although self-definition as a movement may have played a role in member recruitment and retention, this categorisation does not authentically reflect Momentum’s actual organisational structure and activity, nor its practical function within the Labour Party or the wider UK social and political landscape. Furthermore, activists’ own conceptions of Momentum as a movement differ. The article finds that relative length and/or depth of commitment to the Labour Party and the extent to which their own identities are primarily aligned with party political activism are central to whether activists perceive Momentum as a movement and to their continuing commitment to the group following Corbyn’s departure as Labour Leader.