Policy Press

Thinking Collectively

Social Policy, Collective Action and the Common Good

By Paul Spicker

Published

Jun 5, 2019

Page count

188 pages

ISBN

978-1447346890

Dimensions

234 x 156 mm

Imprint

Policy Press

Published

Jun 5, 2019

Page count

188 pages

ISBN

978-1447346913

Dimensions

Imprint

Policy Press

Published

Jun 5, 2019

Page count

188 pages

ISBN

978-1447346920

Dimensions

Imprint

Policy Press
Thinking Collectively

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.

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).

Part I: Collectivism

Substantive collectivism: collectivism in practice

Methodological collectivism: social science and social policy

Moral collectivism

The individual and the collective

Community

Part II: Collective action for the common good

Government and collective action

Radical democracy

Collective values

Policies for the common good

The common weal