Politics against individualism?

Reviving community requires progressive politics The coronavirus pandemic may have forced us into isolation, but it has also highlighted our dependence on one another. Across the world, crisis led to huge increases in volunteering, and here Britain thousands of people formed mutual aid groups provide help support their neighbours. Might this signal that we are heading towards less individualistic societies, which plays a larger role? Two new books argue can should be future: In Greed Is Dead: Politics after individualism, Paul Collier John Kay, two distinguished Oxford economists, open with trenchant critique present. ‘We live’, they declare, ‘in societies saturated selfishness.’ This is because both its ‘possessive’ ‘expressive’ varieties, underpins ideologies dominate contemporary public life. But individualism ‘is no longer intellectually tenable’. Drawing thinkers from Aristotle Elinor Ostrom, authors prosocial nature human beings been wrongly ignored. Societies do best, contend, when institutions nurture mutuality, taking account cooperative instincts natural need for community. “such theories proven above all self-fulfilling prophecies, driving increasingly destructive irresponsible approaches within worlds business finance” Finally, Kay raise some important questions about whether really capable providing personal fulfilment. Pointing wellbeing research mental health statistics, rightly suggest neither consumption celebrated by possessive nor autonomy sought through expressive offers an effective route happiness. beyond these broad-brush intellectual arguments, seem lack clear narrative what gone wrong Britain. At times wax nostalgic postwar consensus as lost expression communitarianism, at other points present product hubris possibilities central planning. Similarly, denunciations New Right ideology sit uneasily alongside complaints state taken too much. reader almost suspect might not quite agree between themselves! Perhaps result this, devote attention political economic choices past decades than alleged bad attitudes various social groups. moralise against ‘atmosphere unfettered greed’ over certain corporations, berate sector workers ‘sense moral superiority’ reserve especial disdain ‘activists’. latter group, allege, driven ‘self-righteous narcissism’ prioritises ‘intensity feeling’ ‘actual knowledge’. expresses particular contempt Occupy protestors London who failed, under his questioning, offer any sophisticated opinions decline markets listed securities. Indeed, frequent refrain throughout book today showing kind public-spiritedness. Exalting industrialist internationalist, complain ‘global salvationism’ reminiscent Charles Dickens character Mrs Jellyby, whose fictional philanthropy contrast unfavourably ‘constructive activism’ Victorian mill owner Sir Titus Salt billionaire Bill Gates. What presents then so much programme critique, call attitudinal change. Although policy suggestions – such greater devolution, stronger skills more investment early years education advocacy ‘communitarian politics’ primarily plea leaders citizens think differently. ends expressing hope will given confidence ‘join in’ rejection level. just individualist attitudes? Harvard scientist Robert Putnam entrepreneur Shaylyn Romney Garrett play. best-known analysts growing atomisation. 2000, he rocketed prominence Bowling Alone,22 R (2000) Alone: collapse revival American community, Simon & Schuster presented stark empirical study associational book, Upswing: How America came together century ago how again,33 SR (2020) again, build analysis, tell grander optimistic story, links fate broader changes. proffer macro history society evolved since start 20th century. Exploring four main themes equality, cohesion, comity cultural altruism, veritable cornucopia scientific data charts. These range traditional indicators, organisation membership figures survey results Google Books Ngram data. claim find striking synchroneity: first half saw connectedness, altruism rise together, before reaching peak late 1960s declining sharply. describe findings ‘I-We-I’ curve story Americans create connected, cohesive equal society, gradually became undone. titular ‘upswing’, followed commonly narrated downturn. “over US history, expansive government, vibrant life solidarity fact hand-in-hand, rising falling tandem” However, Garrett's raises struggle answer. How, instance, different indicators track relate each causally? avoid question, referring them ‘inter-braided reciprocal causality’. leaves all-important question explain downturn fragmented place five decades. hesitantly contingent historical factors, Vietnam War, crises difficulties 1970s. outside seeing similar trends elsewhere, explanations feel frustratingly parochial. “What emerges instead powerful prelapsarian paradise lost, hard-won half-century struggle” rich usefully compliments Kay's polemical intervention. lessons then, take UK? activism celebrated, despised. emphasise was forms activist engagement, young, did kick off upswing. Any effort revive civic draw energy values generation. Second, rather considering problem atomisation material context. today, means attempt connected must grapple seriously immense damage fabric wrought decade austerity. Not only opened up gaps outcomes across country, very communal spaces amenities make engagement possible hollowed out.55 Marmot M Health Equity England: Review 10 on, Foundation. https://www.health.org.uk/publications/reports/the-marmot-review-10-years-on Since 2010, 800 libraries 900 youth centres, while 2014, 12,000 sold local councils.66 Flood A (2019) ‘Britain closed show’, Guardian, 6 December 2019. https://www.theguardian.com/books/2019/dec/06/britain-has-closed-almost-800-libraries-since-2010-figures-show. Eichler W ‘Youth service funding cut 70% decade’, LocalGov.co.uk website, 20 January 2020. https://www.localgov.co.uk/Youth-service-funding-cut-by-70-over-decade/49844. Chakelian ‘Introducing Statesman series: Britain's Lost Spaces’, 19 February https://www.newstatesman.com/2020/02/introducing-new-statesman-series-britain-s-lost-spaces Only repairing damage, rebuilding realm, see shift ‘I’ ‘We’ society. crucial third lesson, change enough own. changes chart reflect ‘moral awakening’ movement ultimately manifested institutionally reforms era, subsequently those Deal Great Society.77 Society set domestic programmes launched Democratic President Lyndon Johnson 1964–65, designed combat poverty racial exclusion major investments education, health, welfare urban renewal. flourishing solidaristic culture mid-20th were inextricably bound arrangements. Britain, require exhortation. It democratic politics. David Klemperer PhD candidate Queen Mary University