What kind of 'power to the people'?
by Duncan O'Leary
Of course it may mean all of the above - and more - but i do think that the terminology of 'power' is becoming a bit ubiquitous, and is in danger of losing its meaning. This doesn't mean that it's the wrong idea, but we do need to be clear what we mean by it, whether people actually want it, and what we hope to achieve by it. And of course it means listening/actually handing over power when people make their voices heard.
Demos will be making its own contribution over the next month or so. John will be launching his pamphlet on the need for a democratic mandate for culture, and we will also be publishing a report with the JRF on the relationship between public participation in the governance of public services and the trengthening social ties.