Reflections on 'The Big Society'

Abstract

One of the features of the UK new government's policy and politics in 2010 is what Prime Minister David Cameron calls ‘the Big Society’ launched in 16 July (www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/newsroom/news_releases/2010/100719-bigsociety.aspx). This concept seemingly differentiates it from the earlier Thatcherite individualism, which famously denied the existence of ‘society’, and puts considerable emphasis on the role of civil society, the third sector and social enterprise to step in and succeed where the state has arguably failed. Is this a golden opportunity or a poison chalice for the community sector? Is it a distinctly new initiative or are there lessons to be learned from other international contexts where similar efforts have been tried? In this reflective piece, Matthew Scott, Director of the UK Community Sector Coalition, kicks of a debate which will be continued in future issues of the journal. ‘There is no Big Society Plan, and no one is in charge.’

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