Without a vigorous party organisation in most of Britain's large conurbations, the Tories have abdicated the job of challenging Labour in many places to the Liberal Democrats.
It has the highest literacy rate in Africa (over 80%), an established black middle class, a lively press, vigorous civic organisations and, until recently, an independent judiciary and a relatively sophisticated, well-diversified economy.
Jessica D Lewis, of the Institute for the Study of War, commented in a study of the movement at the end of 2013 that al-Qa'ida in Iraq "is an extremely vigorous, resilient and capable organisation that can operate from Basra to coastal Syria".
Leaders of the Church of Scientology last night launched a vigorous defence of their organisation and their treatment of the faith's adherents amid what they described as "sensationalist" claims they have been under investigation by an FBI task force on human trafficking.
Christopher Pissarides On a similar note, the CBI's president-in-waiting, Roger Carr, quickly broke ranks by declaring his support for the Labour-initiated 50p rate of income tax on Britain's richest earners – in sharp contrast to the business organisation's vigorous campaign against the policy.
Herbert says the new organisation would provide a more "radical" and "vigorous" approach to combating racism.
The BBC's Christian Fraser said that the vigorous nature of the investigation was a warning to media organisations across the world.
A vigorous campaigner for social justice and racial equality, she was active in many organisations, locally and nationally, including Home Start, the Anne Frank Trust, CND and the Labour party.
Her level of organisation was almost German, he said – a comment which Yusra denied with a vigorous shake of her head.
One of the most vigorous, said John, is Probus, which I confess I'd never heard of, but is an international organisation for retired professional and business people.
