One of the phrases of the election in the UK was ‘The Big Society’. It was coined as part of David Cameron’s campaign for the Conservatives, as a riposte to Labour’s notions of a Big Government. Where the big government squeezed out private initiative and monopolised services, the Big Society would empower the citizen to do things for themselves. It would encourage citizen activism and community building, giving the power back to the people. There’s a summary of it here (pdf).
On the one hand, I love the idea of a Big Society. I’m a big believer in society, in the power of community and the importance of public goods. However, it is precisely because I believe in a big society that I am suspicious of the Conservatives. ‘Everybody must take responsibility for their own lives’ is a coin with two sides, and the other reads ‘I’m alright Jack’. Personal responsibility is important, but if it’s accompanied by further individualism and greater inequality, then it actually works against community. Misconstrued though it is as an isolated quote, it doesn’t help that Margaret Thatcher did actually say there was “no such thing as society”.
I suspect that The Big Society was devised precisely for people like me, presenting a new Conservative party, a progressive Conservatism that is on the side of community. If they mean it, and it isn’t a PR gimmick, then it is a welcome initiative and one I want to support. So I was pleased to see that nef have put together a proposal on the Big Society – asking for clarification and suggesting some ways forward. Does a smaller state naturally imply a bigger society, they ask. How will people participate, and what kind of time commitment is expected?
To make it work, nef suggest that it should be centred around social justice. It should encourage participative democracy, be as inclusive as possible. They also suggest it should include a move towards a shorter work week, freeing up lots of new time for community activities.
Time will tell whether the Big Society is a genuine vision for the country, or just a new angle on the same policies. Now is the time to help shape it into the former.
The Earthbound Report 
The big society WILL NOT HELP!!! In a recession the last thing you want to do is take away paid employment, which is exactly what Cameron is trying to do.
Cameron: “We have nooo money, people are soooo expensive”
Eager-to-impress-Aide: “Oh I know, we can save money by not paying the public sector!”
Cameron: “Yeah, OOOOO, you know, we could market it as society! You know, all lovey dovey aren’t we all lovely people helping each other out!”
yayyyyyy all solved… NOT!! The middle class daily mail legions might buy this fairyland drivel but it just plain won’t help. Has not one member of the cabinet studied history or politics?
What’s the worst thing about recession? Unemployment, if you get people jobs they’ll spend their money creating more jobs.
What’s made the Great Depression REALLY bad? Isolationist policies (SO whhyyyyy are we supporting local produce? If other’s make it cheaper buy theirs!!!! Nobody is better off if you spend extra money on local produce).
For more rantyness: http://youreconomist.wordpress.com/2010/08/18/how-benevolent-britain-and-the-big-society-will-lower-living-standards/