Civil Society & David Blunkett: Lawyers Vs. Politicians

by Kenneth Minogue

For hundreds of years civil society was "the arena of freedom," that network of free institutions made possible by the framework of law and order. As government grew, politicians took over many of the functions of those institutions. The state became the source of benefits, redistributing wealth and "crowding out" the institutions of civil society. However, when the state falters in its grand designs, politicians are quick to call upon the virtues of solid citizenship which the institutions of civil society nurture - or used to, before they were gutted by politicians. In this brilliant and witty essay, Kenneth Minogue examines the dilemma with special reference to the case of Home Secretary David Blunkett. Blunkett's working-class common sense places him closer to the aspirations of ordinary people than most members of parliament, but Professor Minogue argues that he has not escaped New Labour's "passion to regulate, codify, define and help us poor ordinary citizens to live better lives." He wants to call upon the virtues of a vigorous civil society, whilst declaring the Home Office the Department for the Citizen. Like other politicians, he wants the powers of the modern welfare state, coupled with an active citizenry. The two things are largely incompatible.

45 pages, Paperback

First published October 1, 2002

About the author

Kenneth Robert Minogue was an Australian academic and political theorist. Long residing in the United Kingdom, Minogue was a prominent part of the intellectual life of British conservatism.

Associated for much of his career with the London School of Economics, where he was Professor of Political Science from 1984 to 1995, he was described as a central figure in a group of prominent conservative philosophers and commentators at the LSE that included Maurice Cranston, Elie Kedourie, and William Letwin.