The Politics of Public Behaviour
Duncan OLeary Thu May 08, 2008 at 11:52:12 AM GMT 
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This week has seen ministers rallying to the cause of collectivism – whether in response to climate change, child poverty, or other social issues like obesity. Where the Tories promote ‘social responsibility’ and the role of civil society, ministers argue that it is the state that creates a fair society and helps people take control of their own lives. Demos has a new publication out today called The Politics of Public Behaviour, in which Andy Burnham makes that case.
The pamphlet looks at how and why governments find themselves drawn into questions about how children are parented, how household waste is disposed of, how people travel, how much they save for later in life, and how much they eat, drink, smoke and exercise.
It argues that a debate about people’s personal behaviour raises important questions. Where do personal freedoms stop and mutual obligations begin? Which decisions should be public and which private? And how and when should government play a role? Andy Burnham argues that it is time for the progressive left to stand firm behind a role for government – even if that is with more sensitivity than has sometimes been the case in the past.
You can download the pamphlet for free on the Demos website here.
