New Statesman 2014 Supplement: Civil Society and Poverty | Rethinking Poverty

New Statesman 2014 Supplement: Civil Society and Poverty

Posted on 12 May 2014   Categories: Publications Related Tags:  , ,

Taking action on poverty: Does civil society hold the answer?, a new special supplement from the New Statesman, published in partnership with the Webb Memorial Trust, explores the role of civil society in reducing poverty and inequality, and questions why this sector has not been as vocal as it could or should have been in the face of increasing poverty and inequality throughout the UK.

Income challenges, the close relationship many charities enjoy with government, and the role of grassroots movements are all explored within this series of articles written by leading voices from within civil society.

At the heart of the report is new research from Paul Bunyan and John Diamond of Edge Hill University, which investigates the role of civil society in bringing about the positive change the UK needs. It makes a number of observations and suggestions, including:

1)         The capacity for civil society to effectively address poverty has been weakened as a result of a lack of a coherent strategy. For example, too much emphasis is placed on the role of charitable giving and not enough on the structural nature of poverty.

2)         Civil society should remain at arms-length from electoral party politics. Instead it should focus on developing the power of grassroots organisations to more effectively engage with, and contest, state and market practices which diminish human dignity.

3)         Civil society needs to become more radical in the approaches and strategies it adopts in tackling poverty and inequality in the UK – particularly in light of the austerity measures and the impact this has had on the most vulnerable in society.

To view the full New Statesman/Webb Memorial Trust supplement click here

Posted on 12 May 2014   Categories: Publications Related Tags:  , ,

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