Theory and Policy: Understanding the Big Society

Pete Alcock

Theoretical and Conceptual Analysis

What is the Third Sector?Third Sector or Civil Society?Overlapping boundaries – hybridity and fragmentation

‘Strategic Unity’ – constructing the sector through policy action

Policy Environment

History of policy engagement with the sector – changes over time

From ‘incremental consolidation’ (voluntary sector)To ‘hyperactive mainstreaming (third sector) – Kendall

New Labour legacy

New Labour Legacy

Hyperactive mainstreaming

Partnership - CompactHorizontal supportService delivery – contract, accountability and

performanceStrategic engagement – Recession Summits

Policy Devolution

(Dis)United Kingdom – third sector policy devolved since 1999

• New policy spaces• New policy actors• Similar policy directionBut – Political changes in 2010 and 2011: No Big Society

in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland!

Recession and General Election

Major upheaval in economic and political landscape – policy environments never stand still!

• Discourse analysis of recession – Crisis, Mixed Picture or Phony War?

• Third sector in 2010 election – From Partnership and Modernisation to the Big Society

Big Society and Cameron Government

Core theme of Cameron and Conservative Party in run up to 2010 election

• Hugo Young speech – November 2009• Building a Big Society paper – April 2010• Manifesto – your contribution to government…

But – confusion on the door-step, profile dropped…

Coalition Government

Big Society quickly back on the agenda - Building the Big Society, Early Coalition Policy Statement

• May 18 – PM and DPM‘Big Society at the heart of public sector reform…’• July 19 – PMLiverpool Big Society speech – ‘my great passion’,

‘huge culture change’

Big Society – New Political Discourse

A narrative for centre-right Conservatism• Credit Crunch and Recession – failure of New Right,

free market neo-liberalism – there is a society…• Rejection of New Labour’s ‘Big State’ – governments

do not know best…• Or….. cover for extensive cuts in public welfare

expenditure

New Language

Office for Civil Society – ‘third sector abolished’!

Cabinet Office programme• Making it easier to run voluntary organisations• Making it easier for organisations to work with the

state• Getting more resources into the sector

New Policy Programmes

• Localism – Right to challenge• National Citizens Service• Community Organiser training• Big Society Day• Vanguard Communities - [Liverpool], Windsor and

Maidenhead, Sutton, Eden Valley (Cumbria)

Policy ContinuityIn practice policies build on Labour legacy!• Public service delivery• Community Organisers and Community First• Mutuals and Social Enterprises – Right to Provide• Big Society Bank• Infrastructure support• Encouraging giving and volunteering• Role of OCS….

Public Spending ReviewOCS Budget cut by around 60%• QUANGOS closed - Capacitybuilders, Commission for

Compact• End of horizontal programmes – Futurebuilders,

Change-up, Social Enterprise Investment Fund• Cuts in support for Strategic Partners Local authority support lost - False Economy, 2000

charities experiencing £110m cuts in 2011NCVO estimate £2.8 bn loss 2011-15

Big Society Contradictions

• There is a paradox at the heart of the ‘Big Society’ message namely that it can be identified as desirable by legislators, but it cannot be legislated for. For if we legislate for the Big Society then it is no longer society which expands but the state

Conservative peer, Lord Bates

Yet community organisation and civic engagement often focuses on the (local) state

Policy Devolution

Third Sector policy in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland - after the recession and the 2011 elections

• Different discourses – no Big Society?• Managing public expenditure cuts• Public service reform• Infrastructure support

Other Policy ActorsSector Leaders – a ‘policy elite’?

BIG Lottery Fund as a policy actor BIG’s journey – from Courtship to Honeymoon to a

Mature Relationship…

And… Public Services Reform (White Paper) – what role for the third sector?