Thinking Collectively: Social Policy, Collective Action and the Common Good

by Paul Spicker

Overview

What does collectivism mean in social policy? What does thinking collectively imply for policy?

In this book, well-respected author Paul Spicker lends a complementary voice to his Reclaiming Individualism, reviewing collectivism as a dimension of political discourse. Breaking down his analysis to examine collectivism through substantive, moral and methodological lenses, he reviews a series of arguments for cooperative effort, solidarity and collective responsibility. Taking a dispassionate and methodical approach, the author explores what collectivism means in social policy and what value it offers to the field.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781447346890
Publisher:	Bristol University Press
Publication date:	07/05/2019
Edition description:	First Edition
Pages:	188
Product dimensions:	6.14(w) x 9.21(h) x (d)

About the Author

Paul Spicker is Emeritus Professor of Public Policy at Robert Gordon University; he works independently as a writer and commentator on social policy. His previous books on applied social theory include Liberty, equality, fraternity (2006), Reclaiming Individualism (2013), and Arguments for Welfare (2017).

Table of Contents

Preface v

About the author vii

Part I Collectivism 1

1 Substantive collectivism: collectivism in practice 3

Social behaviour 3

Social groups 6

Collective action 12

Society 18

Collectivism: some initial reflections on policy 20

2 Methodological collectivism: social science and social policy 23

Understanding behaviour collectively 23

Methodological collectivism in practice 30

3 Moral collectivism 37

The morality of collective action 37

Groups as moral actors 40

Reconciling moral collectivism with moral individualism 49

4 The individual and the collective 57

Individual and group interests 60

The many and the few 64

Protecting individuals within collective structures 68

The individual and the collective: moral perspectives 70

5 Community 75

The nature of a community 75

Patterns of community 79

Solidarity in communities 84

Social inclusion 86

The political community 88

Part II Collective action for the common good 93

6 Government and collective action 95

The nature of government 95

Government as collective action 101

Government and civil society 105

Democratic government 111

7 Radical democracy 115

Civic republicanism 115

Populism 121

Populism and radical democracy 126

8 Collective values 131

Collective action as a value in itself 134

Constitutive values 140

Substantively collective values 143

9 Policies for the common good 149

The common good 149

The conditions for a common good 158

Methods: voice and empowerment 162

Policies for the common good 163

10 The common weal 169

Towards a good society 169

The principles of the common weal 171

Index 175

Index of names 177

What People are Saying About This

From the Publisher

“Paul Spicker asks how to think-with, live-with, and be-with collectives in this important new book which sees afresh the possibilities of collective life. Crucially, it also reinstates the significance of the common good and value of the common weal for social scientists and activists.” Stephen A. Webb, Glasgow Caledonian University

“This concise and well-written book is a compelling and timely reminder of the importance of collective action and political community.” Daniel Béland, McGill University

Editorial Reviews

This book is both frustrating and highly engaging. Just as soon as the reader... starts to recognise left-wing progressive values of collectivism, Spicker provides examples of how collectivist approaches also support conservative and right-wing politics... this is an important book as it challenges assumptions about collective thinking while at the same time helping to clarify why and when ‘collective’ thinking is crucial…” Critical Social Policy

"Spicker has produced a thought provoking set of arguments and covers a wide range of varied literature which students should find both accessible and valuable." Journal of Social Policy

From the Publisher

Spicker asks how to think-with, live-with, and be-with collectives in this important new book which sees afresh the possibilities of collective life. Crucially, it also reinstates the significance of the common good and value of the common weal for social scientists and activists.

Glasgow Caledonian University Stephen A. Webb

This concise and well-written book is a compelling and timely reminder of the importance of collective action and political community.

McGill University Daniel Béland

“This concise and well-written book is a compelling and timely reminder of the importance of collective action and political community.

McGill University Daniel Béland