Here I will explain any history of activism or sociological terms that appear in my posts and are not widely known outside the academic fields they grew up in.
Instrumental Politics
To quote Frank Parkin in his 1968 work Middle Class Radicalism, instrumental activity is that which is 'directly geared to the attainment of concrete and specific goals, generally of a material kind. Emphasis is placed on the ends to be achieved rather than on the means employed in attaining them'. It is primarily focussed on getting the job done even if that means comprimising on principles.
Expressive Politics
In contrast, expressive activity is 'less concerned with specific achievements than with the benefits and satisfactions which the activity itself affords'. It is mainly concerned with defending principles rather than gaining power, and so 'the rewards are as much in the action itself as in the ends it is directed to'. Parkin attributes expressive politics to the middle class radicals and public sector professionals who were involved in 1960s social movements, specifically the CND.
