Big Society - but what does it mean?
The government must be more precise about what the Big Society means, if the idea is to be a success, according to Geoff Mulgan, director of the Young Foundation. Writing in The Sunday Times, Mr Mulgan argues from recent history that “when government retreats, it’s as likely that crime and gangs will fill the space, with less trust not more. Many of the nations with the strongest civil societies also have active governments. The lesson is simple: the state can strengthen society.” A new report from the Foundation argues that ‘smaller state’ does not necessarily lead to a ‘Big Society’, but that a strong state can help to build a strong society. Investing in Social Growth - Can the Big Society be more than a slogan? articulates concerns that public spending cuts will fall most heavily on the “innovative social enterprises and small grassroots organisations” that are most needed if the Big Society is to succeed. The report draws on dozens of practical examples to show “how government can develop better tools for judging the social value of public programmes and spending, to reduce the harm associated with deficit reduction.”
