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Social Movements & Protest debate motions (page 2)

Page 2 of 6: 200 more social movements & protest motions, covering 2020 to 2021. Start at the newest social movements & protest motions, or search the whole bank from the motion explorer.

2021 (84 motions)

  • THR the narrative that marginalized groups (e.g. people of color, LGBT+ individuals) should support left-wing parties and politicians

    Nanjing Online Debate Open · 2

  • THW make businesses that are making unprecedented profit from the pandemic (e.g, Zoom, Netflix, Amazon) donate a portion of their profits to be redistributed to businesses that have taken losses

    Nanjing Online Debate Open · 4

  • THW allow individuals and organisations to sue for deplatforming

    Edinburgh Cup · 1

    Info slide

    Deplatforming, also known as no-platforming, is a form of political activism by a group, movement, corporation or organization with the goal of shutting down controversial speakers or speech by denying them access to avenues in which to express their opinion.

  • THW start the rebellion

    Edinburgh Cup · Open_Final

    Info slide

    Your name is Gel Mibson. You are a well-respected, battle-hardened leader of your local community. This community has been ruled by a foreign authoritarian government for several years, under the brutal leadership of King Tedward the Worst. The anti-occupier sentiment is very high and you know there is potential for a great rebellion movement that could bring your people more freedom. However, this potential is not without risk. The battle would be difficult, and if defeated you could be imprisoned or even executed. Additionally, you have just found the love of your life and are set to embark on your life together.

  • THR the dominance of positivism in social science research

    MINT · 3

    Info slide

    Positivism is a philosophy of science which argues that there exists an objective reality external to human beings that we can know and measure through quantitative research methods. Examples of these are statistics and mathematical modeling in economics. This is in contrast to interpretivism which argues that there exists multiple realities that can only be meaningfully interpreted through qualitative methods, such as through field studies and phenomenology in anthropology.

  • THBT the Filipino youth should oppose the notion of "Utang na Loob"

    MINT · 4

    Info slide

    Utang na Loob is a cultural trait that describes a form of irreversible obligation felt towards someone when they enact a favor (e.g. children to their parents who raise them well, employees to employers who grant them promotions, etc.)

  • THP a private-led Marawi rehabilitation than a government-led one

    MINT · 4

    Info slide

    The Battle of Marawi was a five-month long siege between the Philippine government forces and ISIS-affiliated militants, including the Abu Sayyaf and the Maute Group. The total cost of damage was pegged at P11.5 B ($236.5 M) and economic loss was P6 B ($123.4 M). It is estimated that the rehabilitation of Marawi City is only 30 percent complete, three years after the war had ended.

  • THS a violent uprising against the Duterte administration

    MINT · 4

    Info slide

    The Duterte administration is marred with human rights violations, reaching up to an estimated 20,000 victims of extrajudicial killings (EJKs) since 2016. Rappler reports 61 lawyers to be victims of EJKs in his regime. Duterte also cracks down on activists, tagging dissenters as communist rebels. Last March 7, nine activists were lost in police-military raids.

  • THS a widespread adoption of cryptocurrency

    MINT · Open_Octa

  • THW abandon policies that seek to preserve dying languages

    IIT BHU PD · 1

  • THP a world like Marx Island

    IIT BHU PD · Open_Quarter

    Info slide

    Marx Island is a world where people cannot inherit private property or wealth.The state takes away any capital that you possess after your death and every child is then allocated an equal amount of capital.

  • THBT minority rights movements should prioritise an approach of arguing for equality and rights based on 'the need for legal equality as citizens of the state' as opposed to arguing for 'acceptance and assimilation of their identity'

    People's Speak Invitational · 4

  • THW abolish eminent domain

    People's Speak Invitational · 5

    Info slide

    Eminent domain refers to the power of the government to take private property and convert it into public use. In different contexts, it may be required that the government only exercise this power if they provide just compensation to the property owners.

  • THS opposition boycotts of all elections that are known to be not free and fair

    People's Speak Invitational · Open_Octa

  • THBT minorities should emphasise their conformity with, rather than distinctiveness from, the dominant culture as a strategy for improving social conditions

    People's Speak Invitational · Open_Octa

  • THO the continued development of technology that renders human workers obsolete (e.g. self-driving cars, automated factories, AI helpdesks)

    People's Speak Invitational · Open_Final

  • TH believes that leftist movements should embrace centrism as a dominant strategy for political change

    Brickfields Asia College Debate Open · 2

  • TH, as the Worker Party, would embrace the return of Lula as the leader of the party

    Brickfields Asia College Debate Open · Open_Semi

    Info slide

    The Workers Party (PT) of Brazil is one of the largest and most successful left-wing parties in Latin America. However, the party suffered significant electoral losses after the indictment and conviction of the party's former leader Dilma Rouseff in 2016. Lula da Silva was a founding member of the Worker's Party and after three unsuccessful presidential campaigns, he was finally elected to office in 2003. Lula is generally considered to be a left wing populist candidate. In 2018, he was found guilty of corruption and money laundering, but these charges were annulled by the Supreme Court in 2020

  • THBT indigenous communities in the Amazon rainforest should undertake acts of vigilantism against poachers and illegal loggers.

    Yale IV · Open_Octa

    Info slide

    In recent years, logging companies have cleared swathes of land around indigenous communities' reservations in the Amazon, with loggers and poachers often also entering their perimeters. President Bolsonaro has claimed that the reservations are too expansive and has called for mining and industrial farming on tribal land. Recently, members of indigenous tribes have begun forming vigilante groups to fight back against the encroachments. They have experienced relative success in combating illegal incursion, but this has come at the cost of being regularly exposed to armed skirmishes and vigilantism being denounced by local authorities.

  • This House regrets the label "Nazi" used to describe extremist movements

    Keio Debate Open · 2

  • THBT states should subconsciously nudge its citizens toward making socially desirable choices

    Keio Debate Open · 3

    Info slide

    Nudging is a concept in behavioural economics which proposes positive reinforcement and indirect suggestions as ways to influence behaviour and decision making of groups or individuals

  • THBT the Global Middle Class should adopt a nihilist outlook on life

    Keio Debate Open · Open_Semi

    Info slide

    Nihilism is the belief that nothing in the world has real meaning

  • THBT social movements in developing countries should reject the glorification of political violence

    SLIDE UP: Southern Luzon Inter High School Debate Encounter XII · Open_Quarter

  • THBT newly democratised post-revolution states should provide reserved seats in their legislative bodies for every group that actively supported the revolution process

    LUMS IV · Open_PreSemi

  • THW legalise gladiatorial battles, with all laws suspended inside the arena and battles broadcasted online

    LUMS IV · Open_Final

  • THW break up persistently dominant political parties in developing democracies (e.g. ANC in South Africa, Barisan Nasional in Malaysia)

    Guangdong Debate Chamllenge · Novice_Final

  • This House supports nonviolent humiliation of public figures or politicians as a form of political protest (including but not limited to milkshaking, egging, etc.)

    Heritage Parliamentary Debate · 3

  • THS private investors countering short-selling by buying up shares themselves

    Heritage Parliamentary Debate · Open_Octa

  • THW break up tech companies that are deemed too big to fail (e.g. Facebook, Google, Apple, etc)

    Dialectics · Open_Semi

  • THP Asian collectivism over Western individualism

    Southern Vietnam British Parliamentary Debate Academy · 5

  • THS the use of conditional cash transfer programs to families in order to encourage pro-social behavior (e.g., sending one's children to school, compliance with state vaccination campaigns, etc.)

    USC IV · 1

  • THR the rise of left-wing antiestablishment politicians (e.g., Bernie Sanders, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez) within the Democratic Party

    USC IV · 4

  • THR social movements' emphasis upon individuals' lived experiences as a prerequisite for legitimate participation in discourse

    Leiden Open · 1

  • THO the democratization of the European Union (e.g. the increase of power of the European Parliament, the increased focus on European elections, and a stronger push of the European identity)

    Leiden Open · Open_Final

  • THW support moderate US Republicans breaking away and starting a new conservative political party

    Vilnius Open · 5

  • This House believes that social movements in developing countries should use strategies that seek the acceptance of the majority as opposed to using a confrontational approach

    Beihang Winter Debate Open · 1

  • THW require the voting bodies of major industry awards (Grammys, Oscars, Tonys, Emmys) to have a significant percentage of people who belong to minority groups

    Bicol Intervarsity · 1

    Info slide

    Major industry awards have the following composition for its voting members: The Oscards have 8.4k voting members who are professionals in the film industry; The Grammys have 12k voting members from the music industry who must have a minimum number of creative or technical credits in music releases; The Tonys have around 800 voting members from the theatre industry and must have watched all the nominated plays. The Emmys have 20k voting members who are provessionals in the TV industry, and are divided into 30 specialised peer groups for the categories.

  • THW aggressively impose an environmental tax on fast fashion companies

    Bicol Intervarsity · 4

    Info slide

    Fast fashion is the term used to describe clothing designs that move quickly to meet new trends. It allows mainstream consumers to purchase trendy clothing at an affordable price. Fast fashion companies include Zara, H&M, Uniqlo, Shein and Fashionova.

  • THW significantly regulate televangelism (e.g. requiring transparency reports, suspending licenses for personal use of donations, restricting harmful preaching, etc)

    Bicol Intervarsity · Open_Octa

    Info slide

    Televangelism is the use of media, specifically radio and television, to communicate religious beliefs. Televangelists are ministers, whether official or self-proclaimed, who devote a large portion of their ministry to television broadcasting. Televangelism often concerns activities like sermons, on-air fundraising, news broadcasting, and faith healing. Examples of televangelist networks are World Healing Center Church Inc, Kenneth Copeland Ministries, GOD TV, etc.

  • This house supports nationalising search-engines

    Justice Tarkunde PD · 1

  • THW break up big banks

    Justice Tarkunde PD · 4

  • THW allow people to sue their parents for creating digital footprints of them without their consent when they were minors

    Justice Tarkunde PD · 5

  • TH, as a fiction writer during the COVID 19 pandemic, would predominantly write stories about the present crisis, rather than stories about the past, future, or alternate timelines.

    Cornell Novice Nationals · 2

  • THS the rise of private cities

    UCDS CP Pro Am · Open_Semi

    Info slide

    A 'private city' is a city that is owned, developed, and operated exclusively by private individuals and/or organizations (usually companies). Within the city, the operators provide all public services and have some power to establish their own sets of rules that differ from the laws of the country it is in.

  • TH, as the Hong Kong Pro-democracy camp, Would encourage and support its members in applying to the UK's visa scheme.

    Queen Mary IV · 2

    Info slide

    The Hong Kong visa scheme is a UK government programme implemented to offer up to three million Hong Kong residents the opportunity to settle in the UK and ultimately apply for citizenship.

  • THBT racial minorities should form a unified social movement instead of campaigning under individual distinct movements

    AUDC · 4

  • THBT individuals have the right to prioritize their immediate communities (family, friends, country etc.) over distant communities

    AUDC · Open_Semi

  • THBT the protestors in Myanmar should choose to engage in violent protests as opposed to peaceful protests

    AUDC · Open_Final

  • THS direct-rescue animal rights groups

    CHIREC PD 2021 · 2

    Info slide

    Direct-rescue animal rights groups rescue animals from cruel conditions, often breaking laws and exposing the conditions they face in slaughterhouses and factory farms.

  • THR the idolization of progressive politicians (e.g., AOC and Bernie Sanders in the US, Jacinda Ardern in New Zealand, AMLO in Mexico)

    CHIREC PD 2021 · 3

  • THW prioritize the expansion of government-provided housing over rent support payments for low-income families

    CHIREC PD 2021 · Open_Semi

  • TH as Black Lives Matter Activists, would reject the Blacks Employment Act

    Christ University Parliamentary Debate · 3

    Info slide

    The Blacks Employment Act, if passed by Congress, would automatically give Black-Americans in the US legitimate claim to 30% of employment spots within all corporations and businesses in the country while giving them the liberty to still compete with others for the 70% employment spots remaining.

  • In states within the Global South, THBT social movements should integrate religious messages and institutions into their advocacy, rather than distancing themselves from them.

    Canada Random Pro Am · 4

  • THS the abolition of the Party List sytem

    Bulacan High School Public Debate Championship · 3

  • THBT online activism is counterproductive for sociopolitical movement

    Bulacan High School Public Debate Championship · 3

  • THR the industrial revolution

    Manchester IV · Open_Final

    Info slide

    The Industrial Revolution was the transition to mass production in Europe and the United States in the period from about 1760 to sometime between 1840. It was characterised by the advent of steam & coal powered machinery, automation and a shift from agrarian lifestyles towards mass production.

  • THBT animal rights groups should focus their advocacy on creating a world where farmed animals are treated well and killed humanely, rather than on eradicating animal-based products

    HK WSDC · 4

  • THR Black Saturday

    Ziauddin University Debating Championship · 3

    Info slide

    Black Saturday, was an event where Vince Mcmahon took the WWF which was a regional wrestling company to a National platform, in the process breaking the code that all the regional promoters had agreed to. In the aftermath of Black Saturday, Vince created a monopoly on professional wrestling, poached all the top regional talent and projected it to a national (and eventually global) audience.

  • This House Regrets the negation of agency in social science

    Ziauddin University Debating Championship · 5

  • This House Prefers nihilistic optimism over traditional optimism

    Ziauddin University Debating Championship · Open_Quarter

  • THR the strategy of charitable causes to appeal towards one's individual heroism in order to encourage altrustic behavior

    Katipunan Debate Open · HighSchool_Final

  • THBT automation will be good for democracy

    Katipunan Debate Open · Open_Final

  • THP a world where, after COVID-19 is no longer a threat to public health and safety, remote work remains the norm

    LSE Open · 2

  • As the leader of a social movement comprised of members of a racial or ethnic minority, THW emphasize the law's liberatory potential over its oppressive potential (e.g. highlighting minorities' ability to acquire and use legal expertise for their protection and advancement, rather than highlighting the biased and inaccessible nature of the law)

    Bates Quimbly Pro Am · 2

  • THBT corporations should not take an active role in discussions on social issues

    Warwick IV · 3

  • THO integration with nationalism by social movements

    Philippine Queer Open · Open_Final

    Info slide

    Examples of social movements integrating with nationalism include: ex. USA Pride Flag ex. "Real Brits support women's equality" ex. POC floats at independence parades etc

  • In former authoritarian countries, THP revolutionary leaders not to run for political office

    Imperial Pro Am · 1

  • THW as the working class, supports creating digital clones of themselves

    DTU PD 2021 · 2

    Info slide

    There is a technology that allows people to create digital sentient clones of themselves. These clones can perform your daily chores (assignments, office work, etc). The clone will be stored in an egg-shaped device, and will have a mind of its own. A corporation mass produces this technology aimed at the working class to make it easily available for them.

  • TH (as the Radical Left) supports Liberation Theology

    DTU PD 2021 · 3

    Info slide

    Liberation theology was a late 20th-century Roman Catholic movement arising in Latin America. The Liberationists said the church should act to bring about social change, and should ally itself with the working class to do so. Some radical priests became involved in politics and trade unions; others even aligned themselves with violent revolutionary movements.

  • THR the rise of political language to legitimise personal emotions. [E.g. Care labour being the explanation for anxiety of womxn vs emotional drain you feel for your work as an individual]

    DTU PD 2021 · 3

  • THW allow citizens from specific localities to vote on whether big corporates should set up business operations in those regions

    DTU PD 2021 · Open_Semi

  • TH, as social movements for deeply oppressed communities, would actively promote the concept of matyrdom among their followers

    LSE Pro Ams · 4

  • THR the narrative of needing to stay productive during the pandemic

    LSE Juniors · 1

  • THBT environmental activist organisations should start a campaign of sabotage and destruction against major polluting companies

    Ultrecht Open · 3

    Info slide

    A campaign of destruction and sabotage may involve legal and illegal activities like vandalism, boycotting of products and services, cyberattacks, supply chain disruption, and aggressive protests. For further clarification supply chain disruption in this context is the act of disrupting the supply chain of major polluting companies by targeting transportation networks, blocking access to raw materials, or impeding product distribution. These activities can potentially cause economic harm to the companies.

  • This house, as the progressive glacier movement, would campaign for glaciers to voluntarily acquiesce to global warming.

    UNSW IV Online · 5

    Info slide

    CONTEXT SLIDE: For the purposes of this debate, glaciers (e.g. ice sheets, icebergs, ice shelves) have suddenly developed sentience, communication and the capacity to consciously control the pace of their melting or stop it entirely. Glaciers cannot stop the process of global warming or its other adverse consequences (e.g. sea levels may rise at a different pace, but this does not affect carbon emissions or the prevalence of bushfires). Nobody else apart from the glacier species is aware that glaciers have developed intelligent thought.

  • THBT progressive political candidates and parties should refuse to accept donations from corporations and high-net individuals

    Uhuru Worlds · 1a

  • THW confiscate persistently vacant residential properties to use as social housing.

    Uhuru Worlds · 3a

    Info slide

    Social housing is residential property that the state uses to house people who cannot afford decent housing.

  • THBT settler-states should pursue immigration policies that lead to no cultural or racial group being a majority of the population

    Uhuru Worlds · 7a

    Info slide

    settler-states are post-colonial countries where the population descended from colonists is the largest ethnic group. Eg the United States, Canada, New Zealand, Australia

  • in the 2022 elections, THBT Philippine progressives should prioritise winning local elections

    Debatable Open · Open_Final

  • THBT social movements should emphasise an individual's capacity to change their circumstances in the face of oppression, as opposed to emphasising the structures that restrict and determine an individual's fate.

    Doxbridge Worlds · 2b

  • THR the creation of progressive political icons in the US (e.g. AOC, Bernie Sanders)

    Doxbridge Worlds · 5b

  • In countries with weak central governance, this house prefers civil-society-supported military coups

    Doxbridge Worlds · ESL_Final

  • TH as Social Justice Movements Would Oppose the Rise of Woke Corporate Advertisements

    Ghana Novice Debate Championship · 4

    Info slide

    Woke' is a political term of African American origin that refers to a perceived awareness of issues concerning social justice and racial justice. Usually, corporations incorporate this in their advertisements on Pride Month and BLM protests.

  • THBT the modern left should advocate for increasing worker ownership of capitalist enterprises rather than state control of the means of production

    Xtension IV · 1

2020 (116 motions)

  • This House, as China, would grant universal suffrage to Hong Kong.

    Thailand WUDC 2020 · Open_Final

  • This House would abolish the private ownership of (housing) property in major metropolitan areas.

    Thailand WUDC 2020 · EFL_Final

  • In liberal democracies, This House would implement a Social Credit System.

    Thailand WUDC 2020 · 6

    Info slide

    A Social Credit System is a national government-facilitated rating system that rewards citizens for good behaviour and sanctions them for bad behaviour. 1. It evaluates a defined set of actions that includes but goes beyond illegal or legally-obligatory acts (e.g., charitable donations, recycling, volunteer work; or jaywalking, and littering). 2. Scores can be given by members of the public, corporations, NGOs, and the government. 3. Based on these scores, the government applies rewards and sanctions (e.g., fast-track through airport security, government-subsidised mortgages, free public transportation; or higher tax, slower document-processing times, and increased barriers to public sector jobs).

  • THW create and enforce filial responsibility laws (mandating that people take care of their parents

    LUMS IV 2020 · 1

  • THBT in authoritarian countries, individuals who wish to improve their societies should actively seek to join the establishment, as opposed to operating outside the establishment.

    LUMS IV 2020 · 5

  • TH, as progressive student movements in Pakistan, would publicly ally themselves with progressive student movements in India

    LUMS IV 2020 · Open_Semi

  • TH supports first generation immigrants to Western Europe encouraging their children to assimilate and identify with local culture

    LUMS IV 2020 · Novice_Semi

  • Assuming support from international activists, THBT indigenous groups should advocate for a boycott, divestment, and sanctions movement against Canada to fight its ongoing discrimination against Indigenous peoples

    Northams 2020 · Novice_Final

  • In response to climate change THS an immediate, indefinite, international workers strike

    Northams 2020 · Open_Final

  • THBT environmental movements should be pro-capitalism in their policies and advocacy (e.g., appealing to corporations for green policies, advocating for individual responsibility and sustainable consumption; rather than lobbying governments for extreme regulation, protesting for divestment)

    Doxbridge Online Open 2020 · 2

  • This House Regrets cancel culture within progressive movements

    Asia Queer Open · Open_Quarters

    Info slide

    Cancel Culture is the phenomenon of collectively unsubscribing to and deplatforming someone and pushing everyone else to do the same

  • This House Supports the rise of atheist movements in Southeast Asia

    Asia Queer Open · Open_Semi

  • This House believes that in times of severe crisis, individuals have a moral obligation to dedicate themselves towards combating the crisis

    Berlin Online IV · Open_Final

  • THS authoritarian reformers in newly formed states. (Eg: Lee Kuan Yew, Castro, etc)

    Ullens Online · 4

  • THS first-generation immigrants to Western Europe encouraging their children to fully assimilate and identify with the local culture

    Deree Invitational LIX · Open_Semi

  • TH as a young individual in an authoritarian country who wants to improve their society would seek to do so by joining the ruling party as opposed to operating outside the establishment.

    Parassat Open · Novice_Final

  • THO the commercialization of competitive debating (such as for profit debate training, paid workshops, paying IAs a salary, paying pros to speak with wealthy beginners, etc)

    Parassat Open · Open_Final

  • This House Supports rioting as a means of fighting for social justice in the U.S.

    Trinity Online Open 2020 · Open_Final

  • THW break up large pharmaceutical firms

    Tilbury House Online Open 2020 · 1

    Info slide

    The pharmaceutical industry discovers, develops, produces, and markets biotechnology and pharmaceutical drugs. The 3 largest takeovers in the industry's history occurred in 2019: Bristol-Myers acquired Celgene, Takeda's acquired Shire and AbbVie aquired Allergan. The combined entities would be the 5th, 9th and 10th largest drugmakers in the industry respectively (based on 2019 revenue numbers).

  • THBT teachers and parents belonging to oppressed minority groups should teach children within their group to contribute to the welfare of the group even at personal cost

    Tilbury House Online Open 2020 · ProAm_Final

  • THBT it is in the interest of the Aam Aadmi Party to join in a coalition with the Indian National Congress before contesting in the next general election.

    NTU Debate Online Open · Open_Semi

    Info slide

    The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) is an Indian political party, and is currently the ruling party of the National Capital Territory of Delhi Legislative State Assembly. They have only 1 seat in the Lok Sabha and 3 seats in the Rajya Sabha (the upper and lower house of the national congress) but are rising in popularity to varying degrees across India. The AAP wants to reverse the way that the accountability of government operates and has taken an interpretation of the Gandhian concept of swaraj as a tenet. The swaraj model lays stress on self-governance, community building and decentralization of power from the centre (federal government). The Indian National Congress is a centre-left political party who have historical roots in the formation of the Indian state. Under the leadership of Mahatma Gandhi, Congress has become the principal leader of the Indian independence movement and have historically done well in elections and have been in government. Under the Gandhi family dynasty (not the same as Mahathma Gandhi), the party has been embroiled in corruption scandals, bank scams and high amounts of nepotism. As a result, the INC has been losing seats over time but still currently have 52 seats in the Lok Sabha and 46 in the Rajya Sabha

  • As environmental movements, THW focus on campaigning against having children as opposed to campaigning to reduce all forms of consumption

    Circuit Breaker Debate Open · Novice_Final

  • This House believes that companies should adopt the practice of Radical Transparency.

    Zagreb Open 2020 · 3

    Info slide

    The company Bridgewater operates on the practice of Radical Transparency. This means that internally every conversation, meeting and report is recorded and available to all employees upon their request. Additionally employees are required to rank each interaction and collaboration with one another, effectively leaving the review of each other.

  • THW forcibly take owernership of privately-owned homes which are not lived in by their owners during periods of national housing shortages.

    Erasmus Rotterdam Open 2020 · 1

  • THW hold city and local governments civilly responsible for deaths that can be ascribed to homelessness

    Hong Kong Pro Ams · 4

  • THBT oppressed minority groups should pursue violent resistance (i.e. rioting) as opposed to peaceful protest when seeking reform.

    Hong Kong Pro Ams · Open_Quarters

  • THW not allow revolutionary leaders and their families in post-conflict societies to run for political office

    Astana Debate Union Open 2020 · 9

  • THBT social movements should focus on publicly shaming corporations to change business practices rather than trying to achieve these outcomes through legislative action

    Evodio Online Open · 4

    Info slide

    In response to widespread public pressure, Johnson & Johnson recently announced they would stop selling skin whitening products in Asia and the Middle East, and Quaker has decided to retire its "Aunt Jemima" label (#auntjemimaisoverparty). Social media sites like Facebook and Twitter have also chosen to flag or ban content produced by far-right commentators (e.g., Milo Yiannopoulos, Alex Jones).

  • THR the rise of silicon valley culture

    Imperial IV · ProAm_Final

    Info slide

    Silicon Valley Culture refers to a workplace culture which encourages the reduction of corporate regulatory structures and hierarchies within a company and the maximisation of individual employees' freedom in their working habits. It does not refer to solely firms in Silicon Valley or the tech industry.

  • THS the illegal removal of statues of popular historical figures by social justice movements who consider them to be offensive (e.g statues of Winston Churchill in the UK, of Sukarno in Indonesia, etc)

    Suzhou Debate Open · Open_Quarter

    Info slide

    Edward Colston was a 17th century slave trader who donated lots of money to charity. Due to his donations he became a popular historical figure and a statue was made of him. However, due to his association with the slave trade, his statue was torn down in 2020 by supporters of the Black Lives Matter movement.

  • THBT identity groups within the feminist movement (e.g. the trans community, black feminists, etc) should lobby and campaign as independent movements rather than together as a single movement

    Suzhou Debate Open · ProAm_Final

  • THR the narrative that in times of crisis (for example: major natural disasters, war, pandemics) frontline workers are national heroes

    St Petersburg Online Open · 1

  • THR violent protests

    The Grand Spar June · 1

  • This house believes that progressive social movements in developing countries should prioritise campaigning for changes to official laws and governmental policies over changes in mass attitudes and beliefs.

    The Grand Spar June · ProAm_Final

  • THBT it is legitimate for oppressed communities (e.g. poor African American communities in the US) to not pay taxes towards the government

    The Grand Spar July · 3

  • THW break up big tech companies

    The Grand Spar July · 4

    Info slide

    Antitrust laws also referred to as competition laws, are statutes developed by the U.S. government to protect consumers from predatory business practices. They ensure that fair competition exists in an open-market economy. On July 29th, 2020, lawmakers faced the chief executives of the tech industry's four most powerful players: Amazon, Apple, Facebook, and Google. Since last June, House lawmakers have been engaged in a sweeping investigation into the tech sector, focusing on whether some of the most notable names in the industry have grown too big and powerful.

  • THBT environmental advocacy groups should prioritize lobbying governments to change environmental policies (e.g. Cap and trade, banning environmentally harmful chemicals) rather than convincing individuals to take responsibility for their own contribution to environmental damage (e.g. reducing / recycling waste, taking public transit)

    Lockdown.Exe Debate League · 5

  • THO the rise of billionaire philanthropy

    Lockdown.Exe Debate League · 6

  • THBT Queer movements in the developing world Should attempt to dissociate themselves from modern Queer movements in the west

    Borneo Online Debate Championship · 1

  • As the resistance group, THW accept the offer

    Borneo Online Debate Championship · 2

    Info slide

    You are a resistance group in an autocratic state. The state has promised amnesty to all those in the group as long as it gives up the struggle.

  • THS Black rights movements in the West's strategy of actively campaigning to defund the police instead of pushing for institutional reforms

    Borneo Online Debate Championship · Open_Final

    Info slide

    "Defunding the police" means reallocating or redirecting funding away from the police department to other government agencies and programs, funded by the local municipality. "Defund" does not mean abolish policing.

  • THW prohibit the dismissal of employees for their use of free speech or expression.

    BRAC Genders Online · 1

  • As Black Lives Matter Movement, THW reject any form of participation from the police force within their protest activities

    Sumatra Online Debate Open 2020 · 2

  • THS the complete and total liberation of all animals

    CP Nationals 2020 · 3

  • THW attend the Queer Liberation March rather than the Stonewall 50 March

    CP Nationals 2020 · 5

    Info slide

    The Queer Liberation March is a self-described people's political march, an alternative to the main Stonewall 50 Pride March. Unlike the Stonewall 50 March, it will have no corporate sponsors and no politicians attending.

  • THS the rise of teenagers at the forefront of social movements (e.g. Gretta Thunberg, Malala Yousafzai, the Parkland students).

    India Debate Open AP 2020 · 1

  • THBT hacking is an acceptable form of protest against large corporations.

    India Debate Open AP 2020 · 1

  • THS the rise of disaster capitalism

    India Debate Open AP 2020 · 4

    Info slide

    Disaster capitalism is a form of extreme capitalism aided by the government that advocates for privatization and deregulation in the wake of war or natural catastrophe, to resuscitate the economy.

  • THBT the working class should reject Bernie Sanders as the face of the working class movement for being a part of the 1%.

    India Debate Open AP 2020 · Open_Octa

    Info slide

    After filing his returns last year, Bernie's income put him in the top 1%. He and his wife, Jane O'Meara Sanders, reported income that topped $1 million in 2016 and 2017, lifted by proceeds from his books.

  • THP a world in which the dominant societal world-view is a realistic one rather than an optimistic one

    India Debate Open AP 2020 · Open_Quarter

  • THW give people additional votes in proportion to their economic disadvantage

    The Debate Open · 2

  • THW abolish awards in creative fields (e.g., the Oscars for film, the Booker Prize or the Nobel for literature, the Future Generation Art Prize for art).

    Doxbridge 2: Euros Bungaloo · 1

  • THS the shaming of individuals as a tactic for social movements to catalyse change (e.g. shaming individuals for not taking environmentally sustainable actions, shaming individuals for violating lockdown/quarantine policies)

    Doxbridge 2: Euros Bungaloo · 5

  • THP a society that heavily emphasises collectivism rather than individualism

    Doxbridge 2: Euros Bungaloo · ESL_Semi

  • That Palestinians should abandon their claim for statehood and opt for a civil rights struggle instead.

    Monash Australs 2020 · 4

  • That young people should reject traditionally empowered political parties.

    Monash Australs 2020 · 6

    Info slide

    'Traditionally empowered political parties' are political parties that have historically enjoyed positions of power (i.e. being the government, holding a majority of seats in parliament) more than any other political parties in that country. Examples are the Republican and Democratic Parties in the US, People's Action Party in Singapore, the Perikatan Nasional (previously known as Barisan Nasional) and the Pakatan Harapan coalitions in Malaysia.

  • That legislative bodies (e.g. parliament, congress, senate, councils) should be formed by sortition democracy.

    Monash Australs 2020 · 6

    Info slide

    Sortition democracy, or the random selection of government officials, is the use of random selection from the populace at large to form voting bodies or fill political positions. In this system, the selection can be modified to match the socioeconomic and demographic profile of the country in question (e.g. 50% of those selected may be women if half of the population of the country is women).

  • That Western companies with a significant number of employees from the Indian diaspora should actively campaign against the caste system.

    Monash Australs 2020 · ESL_Semi

    Info slide

    The caste system divides Hindus into rigid hierarchical groups that dictate almost every aspect of Hindu religious and social life. Although it has long been outlawed in India, it is still informally practiced through surnames, marriage and business alliances, and the formation of political parties that cater to caste groups. Caste prejudice and discrimination is also rife within Indian communities abroad, in the United States and other countries.

  • That we regret narratives that portray human progress as inevitable

    Monash Australs 2020 · Open_Semi

  • That we regret the emphasis placed on individual rights by social justice movements.

    Monash Australs 2020 · Open_Semi

    Info slide

    Individual rights are rights which can be held and exercised by individuals. Even if such rights are group-differentiated, they remain individual if they can be held and exercised by individuals themselves. For example, same-sex marriage is an individual right because it is held and can be exercised by individual members of the LGBTQ community. In contrast, group rights are rights which are held and exercised by groups. One example is the right to engage in collective bargaining; a person cannot exercise their right to collectively bargain themselves; they must do so with other people in a group.

  • That activist movements should embrace cancel culture as a tool to promote social change.

    Monash Australs 2020 · EFL_Final

    Info slide

    Cancel culture refers to the popular practice of withdrawing support (canceling) for public figures and companies after they have done or said something considered objectionable or offensive.

  • This House believes that contemporary social movements should focus on class differences rather than on identity-based discrimination (e.g. gender, race)

    Access Debate Tournament · 3

  • That we regret cancel culture within progressive movements

    Whippersnappa Pre-Australs · Open_Quarters

  • That, as the minority resistance group, we would submit to the state

    Whippersnappa Pre-Australs · Open_Quarters

    Info slide

    You are a resistance group in an autocratic state. The state has promised amnesty to all those in the group as long as it gives up the struggle. Your group is greatly outnumbered.

  • This house, as the progressive movement, supports progressive candidates running on centrist platforms solely in order to get elected

    Macquarie Open 2020 · 2

  • his house, as the progressive movement, supports progressive candidates running on centrist platforms solely in order to get elected

    Macquarie Open 2020 · 2

  • THR the rise of rainbow capitalism

    Cross Deb Soc Practice Tournament Ed. 1 · 4

    Info slide

    Rainbow capitalism is the incorporation of the LGBTQIA+ movement and sexual diveristy into capitalism and the market economy

  • THBT charities and non-profit organizations should be given votes in elections proportional to the amount of donations they receive.

    Taylor's Debate Open · 3

  • In Western Liberal democracies, THR the queer movement's primary form of collectivization transitioning from riots/protests into pride celebrations/parades

    Taylor's Debate Open · Open_Final

  • TH (as Marxists) R the rise of automation of jobs previously performed by humans (e.g., self-driving cars, self-checkouts).

    GGDSD PDC 2020 · 2

    Info slide

    Marxism is a social, political, and economic philosophy named after Karl Marx, which examines the effect of capitalism on labor, productivity, and economic development and argues for a worker revolution to overturn capitalism in favor of communism.

  • This House Prefers protests with clearly identifiable leaders and defined goals to leaderless movements with disparate goals.

    GGDSD PDC 2020 · Open_Quarter

  • THBT identity based social movements should prioritise the majority populations acceptance of that identity over preservation of a distinct culture

    GGDSD PDC 2020 · Open_Quarter

  • THS Zobrist's means of population control

    GGDSD PDC 2020 · Open_Final

    Info slide

    "Bertrand Zobrist" a fictitious character in Dan Brown's novel "Inferno", was a transhumanism scientist who created a virus that he thought could save the world from the imminent apocalypse. He tried to explain to the director of WHO, why he must create a biohazard that can hopefully solve the problem and save the world. WHO then realized that he was becoming a bioterrorist and that he must be stopped. The Apocalyptic Problem was Population Growth. His weapon — a plague that would cause 1/3 of the human population to become infertile — was created, this was in lieu of curbing further rapid population growth. In the Book by Dan Brown, the Virus is released and does what it was intended to do whereas, in the movie adapted from the novel, the virus is contained and Zobrist's attempts are foiled. This dichotomy led to a huge uproar among fans, and many were puzzled.

  • THP a world where radical revolutionaries (Malcolm X, Bhagat Singh) are celebrated over peaceful revolutionaries (Mahatma Gandhi, MLK Jr)

    DSDC Coherence 2020 · 4

  • THW abolish all private schools at the primary and secondary level

    Link Bate Championship III · 2

  • In sanctuary cities, THW grant undocumented immigrants the right to vote

    Link Bate Championship III · Open_Octa

    Info slide

    Sanctuary city are cities in America that limit their cooperation with the national government's effort to enforce immigration law. Undocumented immigrants live and work mostly without the fear of deportation.

  • THW mandate labor union membership in large companies

    Manchester IV 2020 · 1

  • THBT historically oppressed communities should heavily prioritize teaching values of individualism to their children

    Saskatoon WSDC 2020 · 5

  • THBT members of a minority group should oppose popular media that innacurately portrays the culture, struggles or history of traditionally marginalised groups (i.e. Hamilton, Mulan)

    The Novice Debate · 2

    Info slide

    Hamilton: An American Musical is a historical musical about the life of Alexander Hamilton, one of the founding fathers of the US. The musical hires predominantly POC actors. Recently, the writer - Lin Manuel Miranda - had been scrutinised by fans for leaving out Hamilton's involvement in slavery from the musical (#BoycottHamilton). In response, Miranda has expressed public support for the Black Lives Matter movement and explained that the "2.5 hour time window of the musical was, unfortunately, too short to accurately portray historical events". Similarly, Mulan's upcoming live action movie has also been scrutinised for inaccuracies in depictions of Chinese culture despite its cast of predominantly POC actors. This scrutiny increased after lead actress Liu Yifei expressed support for the Hong Kong police in the 2019-2020 Hong Kong protests (#BoycottMulan). Liu Yifei has not officially responded to the criticism against her.

  • THBT social movements should prioritize calling-in problematic inividuals and behaviours rather than calling them out

    East Coast Asians · Novice_Semi

  • THS movements that advocate for the provision of negative rights to sentient AI

    East Coast Asians · Novice_Final

    Info slide

    Negative rights imposes a duty on others and the government to do nothing and not interfere in aspects of your life (e.g: negative rights are the right to live, to be free, freedom of speech). Sentience is defined as the ability to experience feelings and make conscious decisions. Sentient being experience wanted emotions like happiness, joy, and gratitude, and unwanted emotions in the form of pain, guilt, etc.

  • THS local movements in Asia adopting western terminology and strategies to push the cause forward

    Cross-DebSoc Pre-ABP Tournament 2020 · Open_Quarter

    Info slide

    Western terminology in this motion refers to phrases like "People of Colour" "Civil Rights," "Cultural Appropriation," "Black Lives MAtter," etc. that have been used by Western social movements as core identifying markers to push their cause forward

  • THW, as the Democratic National Convention, support the Make Billionaires Pay Tax.

    Cross-DebSoc Pre-ABP Tournament 2020 · Open_Semi

    Info slide

    The "Make Billionaires Pay Act", proposed by Sanders, Markey, and Gillibrand, would impose a one-time 60% tax on wealth gains made by billionaires between March 18, 2020, and Jan. 1, 2021. The funds would be used to pay for out-of-pocket health-care expenses for all Americans for a year.

  • THW break up companies that are deemed threats to the democratic process, even when they do not harm consumer welfare

    IBA DU Nations League · 3

    Info slide

    In antitrust law, the 'consumer welfare' standard means when deciding to break up a company or prevent a merger, regulators should only look at that impact on prices and economic efficiency. The standard implies that neither firm size nor degree of market consolidation are directly relevant when considering antitrust cases.

  • THS the use of shaming to advance social causes

    Victoria's Cup · 1

  • THBT Australian Indigenous groups should focus on expanding the powers and resources of Land Councils rather than seeking change through State/Federal Parliaments

    Victoria's Cup · 4

    Info slide

    Land Councils are regional organisations that represent the Indigenous Australians who occupied the region before the arrival of European Settlement. Their primary functions are to assist Aboriginal peoples in protecting and maintaining their land or cultural sites and organise land claims. Depending on the resources available, some Land Councils also offer programs to help local Indigenous businesses or Individuals access housing and employment.

  • THS judicial activism

    MonDO 2020 · Novice_Final

    Info slide

    Judicial activism is the judicial philosophy that the courts can and should go beyond the words of the constitution or a statute to consider broader societal implications of its decisions when issuing judgments. The United States Supreme Court decision in Roe v Wade has been characterised as an example of judicial activism.

  • In the aftermath of the COVID-19 Outbreak, THBT Western liberal democracies/governments should actively promote the narrative that individuals ought to sacrifice/make sacrifices for the collective community

    Taiwan Online Debate Open · 3

  • THP a world where the legacies of radical revolutionaries are glorified over the legacies of peaceful revolutionaries

    Taiwan Online Debate Open · 3

  • THBT movements should not use civil disobedience as a strategy to achieve their goals

    Taiwan Online Debate Open · HS_Semi

  • This house regrets the dominant narrative that mainstream social movements should refrain from being antagonistic and aggressive, in pushing for changes/fighting against injustice

    Taiwan Online Debate Open · HS_Semi

  • This house, as the engines, would unionise and protest against the Fat Controller's "Really Useful Engine Doctrine"

    Pop Culture Grand Prix · Open_Quarter

    Info slide

    On the Island of Sodor, all the trains, and the majority of trucks, carriages, and motor vehicles, are sentient. They are shown to have free will, feel pain and the capacity to age. The Sodor Railway Company is run by Sir Topham Hatt (known as the Fat Controller). His approach to running the railway and the way he treats his engines is called "the Really Useful Engine Doctrine." This means that an engine's value is only derived from how useful they are. He expresses this belief system regularly on the show, frequently criticising engines for causing "confusion and delay" and insults them by saying they are not useful. Punishments for engines that are not useful have included being being converted into a generator and being sent to the scrap yards. However, when the engines are productive, his means of praise is to say they are a really useful engine. The engines are shown to gain great satisfaction from hard work and and being useful.

  • THBT the age of digital information (e.g. social media, online news, etc.) has done more harm than good in protecting democracy

    Yale NUS Pro Ams 2020 · 1

  • THW heavily penalise corporations for punishing their employees for engaging in legally permitted speech

    Tilbury House Online Open 2.0 · 3

  • That liberal supreme court s should misinterpret the constitution to advance civil rights

    Karachi Debate Open · 2

    Info slide

    That the LGBTQ+ movement should not allow police officers at pride events (such as the pride march).

  • That we prefer a world where cooperatives (employee owned businesses) were the norm.

    Karachi Debate Open · 4

  • That we regret the rise of influencers

    Karachi Debate Open · Novice_Semi

  • That Student Unions should not take political positions that do not directly pertain to tertiary education.

    Karachi Debate Open · Open_Semi

  • THW pool donations for specific charity causes and redistribute them to charities according to evidence-based assessment of the efficacy of these charities within the sector

    BDC Pre-Worlds 2020 · 5

  • THBT human rights activists in post-conflict societies should neither advocate for political parties nor run for election in the transition to democracy

    BDC Pre-Worlds 2020 · Open_Octa

  • THW break up persistently dominant political parties in emerging/developing democracies (e.g. the ANC in South Africa)

    BDC Pre-Worlds 2020 · Novice_Final

  • Post the 2020 elections, and regardless of its outcomes, THBT the progressive faction of the Democrat Party should split to form a new major party

    IUBDC Rational Wrangle · 2

  • THR the prevalent narrative that "the children are the future"

    The Halycon Debates · 1

  • TH, as the working class, W demand for the continued provision of guaranteed-income even post-pandemic regardless of the level of economic recovery

    The Halycon Debates · Open_Octa

  • Assuming Leni Robredo runs in the next presidential elections, THBT it is in the best interest of Leftist political parties in the Philippines to unite to support Leni Robredo rather than fielding their own presidential candidates

    The Halycon Debates · Open_Octa

  • THBT the presence of charities is a symbol of the failure of humanity

    The Halycon Debates · Open_Final

  • THW abolish the Kafala system

    42nd Mindanao Parliamentary Debate Championship · HighSchool_Final

    Info slide

    The Kafala system (or sponsorship system) is a system established in Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries of Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), and also in the Arab states of Jordan and Lebanon. The system aims to regulate employers and migrant worker relationship. The migrant worker cannot enter the country, transfer employment nor leave the country for any reason without first obtaining explicit written permission from their employer, who is also called the kafeel. With this, migrant workers are highly dependent on their kafeel for livelihood and residency.

  • THBT BTS should boycott the 2021 Grammy Awards

    42nd Mindanao Parliamentary Debate Championship · 4

    Info slide

    Bangtan Seonyeondan (BTS) is a K-Pop group that has achieved numerous milestones in the West, including debuting at Number 1 on the Billboard 100 and having the 3rd best-selling album in 2019. They are consistently vocal about their desire for a Grammy nomination, with declarations dating back to 2017. In 2020, they were nominated for Best Pop Duo/Group Performance.

  • THP a world where the privileged progressive youth would deliberately choose to be a 'Living Buddha' with their endeavors in the academe, business, and politics.

    42nd Mindanao Parliamentary Debate Championship · 3

    Info slide

    A Living Buddha is someone who chooses to lose or perform averagely despite having the capability to outperform the vast majority of their peers, especially those who are underprivileged

  • THR the use of language that dismisses activists based on their sacrifice (ie: "protest tourists"; "performative allyship")

    ILNU Pre UADC · Open_Semi

  • In countries dominated by conservative political parties, THBT movements should prioritize grassroots organizing (outreach, education, local funding, scholarships, community spaces) as opposed to advocating for political change

    ILNU Pre UADC · Open_Semi

  • THR the narrative that professionals working for nonprofits perform a "public service" or "sacrifice"

    ILNU Pre UADC · Open_Semi

  • THW allow citizens to sue local governments for failed or insufficient responses to crises

    Visayas Debate Open · 1

  • THS the usage of citizen's assemblies to determine policies addressing climate change

    Visayas Debate Open · Open_Quarter

    Info slide

    A citizen's assembly is a panel of ordinary citizens to deliberate on issues and provide policy reccomendations. These policies are usually brought to a national referendum.

  • THW choose to live in an Anarchist World

    Mindanao IV · Novice_Semi

  • THBT monarchies have no place in modern politivs

    Mindanao IV · Open_Quarter

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