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Theme : democracy
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The adaptive state
Today we launched our new collection The Adaptive State, which outlines an approach to the next phase of public service reform based around systems, personalisation and modular innovation. The book was launched at a breakfast event in London with speakers including Sir Andrew Turnbull (Cabinet Secretary), who said lots of nice things about Demos. It also gets a mention today in the Daily Telegraph.
from : jameswilsdon
12th December 2003
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ENTER THE CYBER-CANDIDATES
In advance of discussions tomorrow with Douglas Rushkoff, this article by Henry Jenkins is worth a read. It explores how Howard Dean and others are using the internet to rewrite the rules of US politics. And of course, it's worth remembering that we're still just at the beginning of this process. I was at a talk last night by Peter Schwartz to mark the launch of his new book 'Inevitable Surprises', during which he mentioned that only 14% of people in the US have got broadband - far lower than...
from : jameswilsdon
8th October 2003
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Open Source Democracy
If you've had a look at our home page you'll know that Douglas Rushkoff has written a piece for Demos called Open Source Democracy. As a bit of a first for the Greenhouse, we encourage you to download it, have a read and then use the comments box on this posting to tell us what you think. Douglas will hopefully be getting involved too, responding to your ideas and thoughts.
from : paulmiller
6th October 2003
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Unintended consequences
Over the last few years, the government has tried to reform and reinvigrate local government. One of the ways of doing it was to introduce cabinet-style local authorities with or without executive mayors. I was speaking to a young local councillor recently who said the new system was demoralising him and his peers. Under the old system, every councillor had a say, and sat on at least one committee where they cut their teeth. Now everything gets decided by a small number of older cabinet...
from : johnholden
1st October 2003
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Digital democracy
Interesting paper on internet politics called Net Nomination which is framed as memo to Democrat candidates. Argues that they should make their website 'the hub of their entire campaign' by combining databases and developing a CRM function - that's constituent relationship management, folks.
from : alistairdavidson
19th September 2003
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Neuromancing
GBN founder Stewart Brand famously wrote that "information wants to be free." Now GBN member and author William Gibson offers this essay on connexity and Orwell's 1984, suggesting a future of informational transparency that will be "shot through with misinformation, disinformation, conspiracy theories and a quotidian degree of madness." He writies "We may be able to see what's going on more quickly, but that doesn't mean we'll agree about it any more readily."Look too for his comments on why...
from : petermacleod
18th July 2003
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Are you looking at me?
A lot of people are getting hot under the collar about moves afoot in the US for 'total information awareness' but John Naughton (who will be speaking at a Demos event next week) points to a project taking place at MIT's Media lab that attempts to turn it on its head and create 'Government Information Awareness'He goes on to say: "We could do the same for the UK. Imagine a site that would automatically collate information about MPs' financial interests, voting behaviour, Commons attendance,...
from : paulmiller
17th July 2003
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The honorable member for cyberspace....
Pretty much every MP now has the obligatory website (the award for cheesiest has to go to Michael Portillo - visit with the sound turned up). Now a couple have even started experimenting with weblogs. My favourite blogging MP moment so far comes from Tom Watson who found himself on a train within earshot of another MP, Bill Cash, who was having a very interesting conversation on his mobile phone... you can find out more here.Vox Politics are doing an event next Monday to explore whether...
from : paulmiller
6th July 2003
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Spot the difference competition
Take a look at the cabinet from 1997 and compare it to the 2003 version. I can only spot three people who've stayed in the same job. The old BBC logo looks funny too.
from : paulmiller
18th June 2003
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Governing by learning
Geoff Mulgan has an interesting piece on openDemocracy that I urge you all to read. It's perhaps best summed up by the final paragraph:"The ultimate prize is that, in this emerging global commons, the governments which are quickest on their feet, most willing to adapt and learn, will be the ones that serve their citizens best."Tom will be responding via oD next week.
from : paulmiller
16th June 2003
