Briefing and working paper 51

Below the radar in a big society

"You can call it liberalism. You can call it empowerment, you can call it freedom, you can call it responsibility. I call it the Big Society" (Prime Minister David Cameron: 19th July 2010).

The 'Big Society' has become a key element of the Coalition‟s Government policy platform, not only on the delivery of public services by the formal and funded voluntary sector but also in terms of communities, more informal third sector activities and individual citizens. Whilst the term itself is recent, and accompanied by the 'new language' of social action, there are continuities between the current Coalition policy objectives and those of the previous New Labour administration: the devolution of powers to the local level, the reconfiguration of services and promotion of community engagement, empowerment and active citizenship.

This working paper explores the debates about 'below the radar' (BTR) community groups and their assumed role in delivering 'big society'. It argues that the motivators for community action are, and have been, ill understood in policy circles. Further, there is and has been little systematic analysis of the power relationship between the state (both locally and nationally) communities and neighbourhoods which can inform meaningful debate on devolution and localism.The paper examines the implications of the new policy environment for small community groups and asks can such activity, which has often been independent of, and operated outside the state, be co-opted to deliver particular government policy objectives?

Research contact
Angus McCabe