The document discusses building a cohesive society through strengthening relationships between people, politics, and the economy. It argues that democracy requires compromise, which only occurs when there is trust in institutions and a sense of shared interests. Currently, economic, social and technological trends are weakening these relationships. The solution is "humble policymaking" that develops society's ability to handle problems and makes policy decisions with, not just for, people. This can be achieved through principles of connection, community and continuity - fostering transparency, participation and social networks to build strong relationships between citizens and their government.

1. The Social
State
From Transactional to
Relational Local
Government

2. Democracies are struggling to resolve their
collective problems. Demos believes the
solution is to build a cohesive society: one
that is capable of resolving its differences
to choose a way forward.
Why is Demos doing this work?

3. But what’s a cohesive society?

4. One with strong relationships between
People
and
politics
People
and each
other
People
and the
economy

5. Trust the
political
system
Like one
another and
feel a sense
of shared
interest
Feel the
economy
works for us
and people
like us
Democracy is fundamentally an act of compromise between us, as
groups, and individuals. We only make those compromises when we:

6. Economic, social, political,
demographic and technological
trends are weakening all three kinds of
relationships
Problem 1

7. And the way we make public policy
often makes things worse. It’s partisan
(divides us). It’s technocratic
(patronises and alienates us).
Problem 2

8. We need a new era of humble policy
making - in which all problems are
solved in ways that develop society’s
capacity to handle them.
Solution

9. Making policy decisions for people is a
missed opportunity to strengthen
relationships. We must make policy
decisions with people. Doing so will
strengthen relationships between citizens,
and between citizens and politics.
It’s about process...

10. But the complexity and divisions are so huge
that new policy processes aren’t enough. In an
increasingly diverse, atomised society, building
strong relationships is a new, central role for the
liberal state.
And it’s about purpose...

11. Process: how policy should be made
● Understand lived experience
● Involve the public in research and policy
process
● Delegate decision-making to citizens where
possible
● Identify points of consensus and shared interest
● Prioritise long term solutions

12. Purpose: how policy can build relationships
People and
politics:
EVERYDAY
DEMOCRACY
People and
each other:
THE CIVIC
NATION
People and the
economy:
STAKEHOLDER
CAPITALISM

13. Design questions
Everyday
Democracy
● How can we get more
democratic voice into
decision making?
● How can we devolve
power to a level where
people are close
enough to want to get
involved?
The Civic
Nation
● How can we engineer
relationship-building
by default into service
delivery?
● Are there segregation
problems and if so
how can we address
them?
Stakeholder
Capitalism
● How can we improve
perceived and real
economic outcomes?
● How can we give
consumers, workers
and investors more
control over business
decisions?

14. Design questions
Everyday
Democracy
● How can we get more
democratic voice into
decision making?
● How can we devolve
power to a level where
people are close
enough to want to get
involved?
The Civic
Nation
● How can we engineer
relationship-building
by default into service
delivery?
● Are there segregation
problems and if so
how can we address
them?
Stakeholder
Capitalism
● How can we improve
perceived and real
economic outcomes?
● How can we give
consumers, workers
and investors more
control over business
decisions?
Relational public services

15. Relational approach isn’t new - what matters is building and
supporting it. Lots of great work out there.
These findings are about trying to tap into public views to understand
how principles for relational local government can be responsive
And help build a community of practice and expertise.
A matter of principle

16. Connection:
Relationships between citizens and decision makers
Community:
Relationships between citizens as peers and networks
Continuity:
Relationships between users and providers
Three relational pillars

17. Connection
The relational state must be
transparent, accessible, be
accountable and both encourage
and enable participation. Local
government should foster
democracy well beyond the ballot,
collaborating with people on local
decisions to set agendas,
commission, design, implement and
evaluate services.

18. Feeling listened to
and feeling you
have clear means of
feedback
- joint in
importance
Demos poll, July ‘21
83%

19. Think it is important
to have
transparency in
local government
operations, policy
design, data
collection and use.
Demos poll, July ‘21
85%

20. 85%
26%
Feeling that you
have a say in LA
policies and
operations is
correlated with
feeling the LA is
transparent about
these
Demos poll, July ‘21

21. “ Although [our local authority say]
they’re not accountable, they’re having
to indirectly become accountable for
things
Demos focus group, July ‘21

22. We have a local neighbourhood forum
here, which gives you the opportunity
to sit directly in front of the local
councillors and address them
personally. So I think in that regard,
they are quite easy to speak to and not
these ‘hidden figures’..
Demos focus group, July ‘21
“

23. Community
Local government should
cultivate networks of support
within communities. By building
social capital between peers
using particular services, between
services and the community at
large, and between citizens, we
can find new mechanisms of
prevention, instead of
overwhelming the state and
leaving needs unmet.

24. 74%
Think it is important
to discuss local
authority policies
and how they
operate with other
local people
Demos poll, July ‘21

25. If you had the council promoting [a
grassroots litter pick Facebook group],
and getting people together and in
touch with each other, I think that’s
quite a powerful way to initiate change
Demos focus group, July ‘21
“

26. People ought to feel
familiarity with local
government staff and their
local representatives, and as
much as possible have
continuity with who they
interact with, whichever the
means of communication.
Continuity

27. 75%
Think it is important
to have a set
person to talk to
when you access or
have questions
about services
Demos poll, July ‘21

28. I think I prefer the automatic online
contact when they’re kind of just
updating me, but when I really need to
contact them, like, first time, I think I
need to speak to someone over the
phone or possibly go to their office.
Demos interview, July ‘21
“

29. 70%
45%
Greater willingness
to participate is
correlated with
seeing the same
person when
accessing services
Demos poll, July ‘21

30. Discussion
1 What can this approach bring to your policy practice?
2 How is your organisation building relationships into
services and policy?
What are the challenges? What methods and tools
could help?
3