1. Prospects for Progressive
Politics:
Harnessing Drivers and
Trends
Andrew Gamble

2. NEW TIMES 1 Global Changes in Capitalism, Politics, and Culture 1980s
Post-Fordism, Flexible Specialisation
The Competition/Social Investment State
Individualism, Autonomy, Choice

3. NEW TIMES 2 Global changes in capitalism, politics and culture 2000s
The information economy
The network state
Identity, Risk and Security

4. HOW HAS THE UK ADJUSTED? Two Views
1. UK political economy now well balanced
Liberal welfare regime
High employment, Low inflation, Moderate growth
Choice between modest redistribution/modest tax cuts
2. UK political economy a hybrid
Political stalemate
Spending on the welfare state either too low or too high
Extended reach of the state/declining faith in its capacity
Choice between substantial expansion or contraction

5. TRENDS The general direction of action and events
Widening inequality, nationally and globally
Increasing emphasis on investment in human capital and quality of services
Expectations outpacing resources
Increasing reach of the state accompanied by fragmentation
Ageing and static/declining populations in Europe
Identity politics, populism and declining participation

6. DRIVERS Shaping the Political Terrain
Public Attitudes to tax, welfare, claimants, migrants, EU
Public Value: Costs and Delivery
Citizenship: Identity and Belonging
Individual Autonomy: Choice and Diversity
Well-Being: Security and Happiness
Progressive Politics needs a programme and a convincing narrative for all four

7. OPPORTUNITIES Public Value: Relegitimising of public spending
Redefining of national minimum
Consolidation of universal programmes
Citizenship: Expanding and deepening
EU, Multiculturalism
Autonomy: Self-government and Accountability
Well-being: New agendas
Revival of public domain, public ethos
Anti-Poverty
Quality of Work

8. DANGERS Public Value: Decline of public ethos, public domain
Erosion of universalism
Residual welfare regime
Citizenship: Campaigns against migration, and EU
Narrowing of solidarity
Problems with participation
Autonomy: Resistance to higher taxes
Declining support for collective welfare and
redistribution
Well-being: Difficulty of matching private sector quality
Impact of inequality on social cohesion