The Big Society: The Anatomy of the New Politics

You can call it liberalism. You can call it empowerment. You can call it freedom. You can call it responsibility.I call it the Big Society.

As the pioneering work to anatomise this new and influential ideology, The Big Society: the Anatomy of the New Politics illustrates the Big Society's redefinition of British politics for a generation. Spanning across economics, philosophy, history, business, civil liberties, education and culture, Norman's work traces the Big Society's roots in neglected British intellectual and social traditions while showcasing its unexpected and cutting-edge new policy ideas.

Packed with deep insights and new perspectives this book makes essential reading for politicians, economists, social commentators, as well as those in the public services and the voting public. Among other things, it explains -- how the growth of the Labour party has been a disaster for the Left in Britain -- why so much happiness theory is intellectually bankrupt -- the paradox of creativity: why high bonuses often reduce, not improve, human performance -- why Conservatives should robustly defend common law human rights -- the social power of music and the arts. Published by the University of Buckingham Press, it is available online and in all good bookshops.

A sample chapter can be found on www.jesse4hereford.com

Praise for the author's Compassionate Conservatism (2006)

The intellectual guidebook to Cameronism, Sunday Times

The book everyone in Westminster is talking about, The Observer

Superb...What the Conservatives need now is not re-branding but an actual philosophical and policy basis for action. This book brilliantly provides that basis, Andrew Sullivan, political commentator and journalist.

Politicians should encourage the emergence of voluntary co-operation, exchange and virtue in society. This delightful and important book explains why and how, from political first principles to policy nuts and bolts. Conservatives and non-conservatives alike should read it, Matt Ridley, author of The Rational Optimist

A glimpse of the future of British Conservatism, Adrian Wooldridge, co-author of The Right Nation.