The Big Society, Localism and Austerity: challenges and dilemmas for theory and

practice

Dr Kim McKee, Centre for Housing Research, University of St Andrews

ESRC Seminar Series: The Big Society, Localism & Housing Policy

Sheffield, 7-8 March 2013

Outline

Context

Key challenges:History: anything new in these ideas?Geography & new political spacesThe local: a new site of empowerment?Exacerbating place-based inequalities?Challenges for the VCSReconfiguration of British Welfare State?

Conclusions

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Policy & Political Context

Popularized following formation UK coalition gvt 2010

Nebulous concept; appeals to left & right of spectrum

BS argues solutions to social ills lie within civil society at local, community scale; not with ‘big government’

Revival of ‘the local’ & policy interest in places/communities

Local decision-making, asset-ownership, mobilization VCS etc

Civil society as a ‘resource’ for the state in austere times

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“We believe that a strong society willsolve our problems more effectively than big

government has or ever will, we want the state to act as an instrument for helping to create a strong society. Our alternative to big government is the big society […] We

need to use the state to remake society” (Cameron 2009: no page number)

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Influenced by work of social commentator Phillip Blond (Respublica Think Tank)

Context of broader welfare narratives Critical of British welfare state; stresses greater role for

VCS, esp traditions co-operation & mutualism

Informed housing policy across the UK (esp Eng): Community Land Trusts Community Self-Build Housing Resurgent interest in Co-operative & Mutual Housing Promotion of community ownership assets & land English Localism Act 2011 (planning & social housing) HAs as community-anchors/place-shapers (Respublica

2012; McKee 2012)

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CHALLENGES FOR THEORY AND PRACTICE

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1.History: anything new in these ideas?

Ideological emphasis on community & presumed benefits devolving power downwards not new

Central to modernizing agenda of previous New Labour administration (1997>2010, esp Blair gvt)

Third Way & Communitarianism Policies such as New Deal for Communities

Localism also popular under Conservative Gvt 1980s-90s

New Public Management & Tenant’s Charter Reducing power of local authorities

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Continuities in policy discourse reflect the “mongrel phenomenon” that is neoliberalism (Peck et al 2009)

Discontinuities as well as continuities; important differences between current & previous gvts

New Labour: co-governance & partnership working to modernize welfare state

Big Society: evokes VCS to attack big gvt, particularly the welfare state

Very different funding climates – VCS now enjoys less state funding; knock on effects for sustainability & survival

Need to see BS in its historical & spatial context

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2.Geography & New Policy Spaces

Devolution (1999) ushered in ‘new policy spaces’ (Alcock 2002)

Most influential in English policy context; although promotion of ‘community’ common thread

Rich & diverse VCS in Scotland, esp in housing, but more scepticism towards the ‘Big Society’ (McKee 2012):

Community Empowerment & Renewal Bill 2012 Christie Commission 2011 Community Ownership of social housing has long legacy Emphasis on community-anchor organisations in

regeneration

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Political geography important impact on way in which policy discourses constructed & mobilized

Challenges of delivering public services in ‘hard times’ pertinent across the UK

In England housing reforms become entangled in debates about welfare dependency (e.g. end to traditional social housing as we know it)

Localism more positive potential elsewhere in the UK?

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3.The Local: a new site of empowerment?

Revival of ‘the local’: manifest in a reinvigorated policy & political interest in localities, communities & places

Extent to which these agendas will ‘empower’ local people remains contested

Concern devolving ‘responsibility’ as well as ‘autonomy’ downwards

Civil society a ‘resource’ for the state (Morison 2000) Means to reconstruct post-war welfare settlement VCS further entangled in webs of governance

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As Cruikshank (1999) argues strategies of empowerment are still technologies of governance

Constitute & mobilize the governable –subject’s capacity to act

Transform political subjectivity into an instrument of gvt Perspective on power that presupposes freedom

(Foucault – power is productive)

Should not assume that all communities necessarily want to take control

May not be a demand for community ownership for example, where already receiving good service

Local and central government have statutory responsibilities

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4. Exacerbating Place-Based Inequalities?

Localism may exacerbate social-spatial inequalities: Communities do not speak with one voice Nor are they all equally resourced nor empowered; nor

operating at the same scale

Some communities may be more able than others to articulate their needs and command resources:

Issues such as skills, education, capacity, experience are all relevant here

May disadvantage already low-income/deprived neighbourhoods

See also work of Hastings & Matthews on middle-class activism

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5. Challenges for the VCSConcern about adopting someone else’s term (Big

Society); but support core principles

Blurring boundaries between third and public sector; expected to fill the gap as the state retrenches

VCS also facing its own funding challenges; need resourcing if to play a bigger role

Scale of interventions questioned by some: community v national level

Rescaling of policy interventions lead to ‘localization’ of policy failure (Macmillan & Townsend 2006)

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6. Reconfiguration of British Welfare State?

Re-thinking of desired relationship between the state & its citizens

Promotion of VCS to achieve more pluralistic model of welfare provision (the ‘voluntary turn’)

New ‘mentality of rule’ – encourages place-based communities to take responsibility for own welfare

Indicative of evolving pol-eco geographies of neoliberalism (Brenner & Theodore 2002)

Danger of returning to Victorian style patchy provision

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Involves “specific constructions ofspace, scale and temporality, which have important consequences for

theshape and structure of the

emerging welfare state”

(Macmillan and Townsend 2006: 29)

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Conclusions

Big Society/localism have been influential in shaping the political & policy landscape across UK since 2010

Need a critical reading of these agendas: Mobilization of community now new (history matters) Policy discourses have differential impact in different

places in different ways (geography important) Localism is no guarantee of community empowerment Devolution may exacerbate place-based inequalities Pose threats as well as opportunities for the VCS Important consider broader context welfare reform

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These key themes will be unpacked in more detail by other speakers/contributors 1st of 3 ESRC funded seminars: Big Society, Localism &

Housing Policy (Belfast Oct 2013, St A March 2014)

Our intent is to foster critical discussion & analysis; encourage cross-sector debate; build new network of researchers interested in this field

Big Society mixed bag for both theory & practice Important recognise weaknesses and challenges of

these agendas, as well as strengths and opportunities Difficult to critique aspirations for local control,

ownership & decision making, but effects uneven

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References Alcock (2002) Brenner N and Theodore N (2002) “Preface: from the ‘new

localism’ to the spaces of neoliberalism” Antipode 34(3): 349-379 Cameron D(2009) “The Big Society: Hugo Young Lecture, 9th Nov

2009” (online) Cruikshank B(1999) “The Will to Empower: democratic citizens

and other subjects” (Ithaca and London: Cornell University Press) McKee K(2012) “Housing Associations and the Big Society:

lessons from Scotland’s community housing sector”. St Andrews: University of St Andrews

Morison J(2000) “The Government-Voluntary Sector Compacts: governance, governmentality and civil society”, Journal of Law & Society 27(1): 98-132

Peck J et al (2009) “Postneoliberalism and its Malcontents” Antipode 41(1): 94-116.

Respublica (2012) “Acting on Localism: the role of housing associations in driving a community agenda” (Online)

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