Public Value
I've been working on a paper with my colleagues Richard Naylor and Kate Oakley about the current fascination in policy circles (particularly in cultural and media policy) with the notion of 'public value'. It's called "Giving them what they want: the construction of the public in 'public value'". Our paper explores the routes of transmission of this voguish idea from Harvard (Mark Moore) to Broadcasting House via Geoff Mulgan when he was at the Strategy Unit.
Our argument essentially is that public value, whilst it has inherent potential as a way of developing public services, has become bogged down in a consumer-citizen ideology (around choice, personalisation, etc) that is particularly associated with the current neoliberal hegemony, and that its use within the BBC's strategy for future services is far more rhetorical than anything else. In fact we argue that there are fundamental dangers for the BBC in adopting this strategy. I'd be really interested to know what you think about the paper.
Our argument essentially is that public value, whilst it has inherent potential as a way of developing public services, has become bogged down in a consumer-citizen ideology (around choice, personalisation, etc) that is particularly associated with the current neoliberal hegemony, and that its use within the BBC's strategy for future services is far more rhetorical than anything else. In fact we argue that there are fundamental dangers for the BBC in adopting this strategy. I'd be really interested to know what you think about the paper.
posted by davidlee at 1:40 AM
1 Comments:
Initially of course, this was not written in response to your paper, however upon reading it, I thought it somewhat applicable.
In this, my first experience in on-line journaling/blogging, I seek two things: information and others with common thoughts. I mention this specifically to indicate that I am not merely asserting an opinion, but rather developing one – in that I desire more information and ideas. I know how I feel, but I need more information in order to understand the reasons behind my feelings and to discern a course of action. I suppose that is what many people are doing, nevertheless, I find it useful to be clear in my intentions. Having said that, let me explain my feelings.( I must preface this with one important factor – I live in the United States.)
As I near the completion of my formal education, I find myself feeling increasingly disturbed by two things in particular. The first is the feeling, or recognition, that American society is nothing more than a lifetime process of assimilation of its members into citizens of “proper” behavior – defined primarily along economistic methods – to the redound of the governing powers. Of course, there are societal and individual benefits to this – but the inability to divorce oneself of “the system” in pursuit of any other arguably beneficial goals seems impossible. The second disturbing issue, is that so many people seem either unaware of or unbothered by this. Of course, that surely is not the case, but it appears so at this time.
What are the best scholarly sources of information on these issues? Where are the people who feel like this? Who are you? How do you live in a society and reach your own (and family) goals without being “assimilated”?
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