John Dewey Social Action and Democracy. John Dewey (1916), in Social action, took as central to his concerns the notion of democracy, arguing: ‘Democracy must be reborn in each generation. Education is the midwife.’ His view of knowledge as a ‘public and common store’ (Dewey 1900) shaped his view of democracy, alongside notions of ‘intelligenceContinue reading “John Dewey Social Action and Democracy.”
Category Archives: Civil Renewal
Sneinton Mini Civic Climate Assembly
A great pleasure to support the 25 th Mini Civic Climate Assembly in the Sneinton Community Centre last week. It attracted some lively and informed residents from the city of Nottingham who had many great ideas for making Sneinton Market a more environmentally and socially sustainable venue for the residents of its community and other residentsContinue reading “Sneinton Mini Civic Climate Assembly”
City of Nottingham Climate Assembly July 2026
We know that our city is moving in the right direction in its move to become carbon neutral and to respond to the climate challenges that are facing us in a way that will benefit everyone. Yet we also know that we need an ever-improving connection between policies enacted by decision makers and the actionsContinue reading “City of Nottingham Climate Assembly July 2026”
POLITICS WITHOUT POLITICIANS BOOK REVIEW
Yale political theorist Hélène Landemore has a soft spot for shy people — the wallflowers least likely to seek or desire power. She believes shy people should play a bigger role in governing. In fact, she argues they might be key to fixing democracy.In her new book, “Politics Without Politicians: The Case for Citizen Rule”Continue reading “POLITICS WITHOUT POLITICIANS BOOK REVIEW”
David v Goliath :Community Flood Resilience in the Derbyshire Dales
The right have hijacked Englishness. Can it be reclaimed?
I spent Saturday morning listening to an exceptional former Green MP Caroline Lucas talk about England and being English and how distorted our electoral system has become. She is a formidable and eloquent analyst of how our system has become a bandwagon for the right and how we might change this dynamic by transforming manyContinue reading “The right have hijacked Englishness. Can it be reclaimed?”
DEEP REGENERATION
In the midst of today’s tumultuous times, as we grapple with a rapidly changing climate and deepening social divides, the need for action has never been more pressing. The concepts of regeneration and sustainability have long been discussed in academic circles, but we must move beyond the realm of theory and into the arena ofContinue reading “DEEP REGENERATION”
TRANSFORMING UNIVERSITIES IN THE MIDST OF GLOBAL CRISIS:A UNIVERSITY FOR THE COMMON GOOD
From the Times Higher Education Book Review. No one paying attention needs reminding that universities are “in crisis”. We are beset by critiques of their complicity with neoliberal and extractive capitalism, dispossession of First Nations, top-heavy administrative regimes, and pedagogical shifts away from critical thinking toward so-called job-ready, marketable skill sets. When we turn aContinue reading “TRANSFORMING UNIVERSITIES IN THE MIDST OF GLOBAL CRISIS:A UNIVERSITY FOR THE COMMON GOOD”
Rotterdam citizens concerned with air quality form a club
They will be measuring air quality as a citizen-driven science project Over 400 citizens of Rotterdam have already registered in a special club dedicated to air quality and called Luchtclub. Part of the activities of the club is the measurement of air pollution on the street with particulate matter sensors. The club aligns with a five-decade-oldContinue reading “Rotterdam citizens concerned with air quality form a club”
LEVELLING UP WHITE PAPER 2022
I wrote this extract immediately below from a blog in July 2020 and was surprised by what seemed to be its impact. There is a growing interest in the idea of civic universities. It’s an idea which has a new resonance with many who believe it’s time for a reassessment of what aContinue reading “LEVELLING UP WHITE PAPER 2022”
