To download a copy of the Participation Nation pamphlet click here.
Whether in dealing with climate change, public health, international terrorism or the promotion of pro-social behaviour, we are entering an era in which progress can only be made if individuals, communities and public services are each able and willing to contribute to securing social change. Be it through “direct democracy”, “double devolution” or “choice and voice”, never before have citizens had so many opportunities to participate. Despite this, the British public are showing themselves to be increasingly disinterested in the work of the public realm.
What is the role of the citizen in the public realm today? How does the trend of disengagement affect public policy and public services? What are its causes and how should politics respond? Central to successful public policy making, Britain must now redefine the relationship between individuals, communities and public services to engage a time-squeezed population that increasingly views consumer choice and non-political activism as their priority.
These are the concerns addressed by the Participation Nation project. The project kicked off in March 2007 with a series of seminars hosted by Involve and Ipsos MORI.
Following the series, Involve commissioned 17 leading UK thinkers and practitioners to discuss the role of the citizen in the public realm for publication.Contributors to the pamphlet include: Rt Hon Douglas Alexander MP; Dave Prentis, UNISON; Tony Juniper, Friends of the Earth; Ben Page and Debbie Lee Chan, Ipsos MORI; Viki Cooke, OLR; Michelle Harrison, IIPS; Cllr Susan Williams, Trafford Borough Council; Karl Wilding and Veronique Jochum, NCVO;and Valerie Hannon from the Innovation Unit among others.
The Participation Nation pamphlet was launched on 12 December 2007 by Rt Hon Hazel Blears MP. For more information about the book or to download a copy click here
Participation Nation: The Seminar Series
In association with Ipsos-MORI
13 March 2007:
“Better Things To Do With Our Time? A Conservative Vision of Citizenship” 26 April 2007: “My Space not Yours? Public Engagement and the You Tube Generation” 1 May 2007: “Better Things To Do With Our Time? A Progressive Vision of Citizenship” 21 May 2007: