Dr. Henry Benedict Tam is a writer and educator who has published extensively on politics and government, communitarian ideas, and community empowerment. His ‘Question the Powerful’ project promotes political understanding and democratic action through a range of publications, guidance, and talks.
[1] Core Ideas
• Communitarianism: politics, society & public policy (new edition 2025): sets out why inclusive communities need to be developed; the importance of mutual responsibility, cooperative enquiry, and citizen participation; and policy implications for government, business, and civil society (“an excellent statement of the communitarian approach to politics and citizenship” – Professor Desmond King, University of Oxford). (First edition: Communitarianism: a new agenda for politics & citizenship; see also its companion volume, Progressive Politics in the Global Age)
• Time to Save Democracy: how to govern ourselves in the age of anti-politics: sets out what democracy should entail; its relationships with civic cohesion, rational learning, and power distribution; and what needs to be done to ensure it can function effectively (“Compelling and challenging in its analysis of democracy” – Professor Diane Reay, University of Cambridge).
• Responsibility & Personal Interactions: sets out the interpersonal basis for establishing the criteria for determining when people should or should not be held responsible for their behaviour, and dispels fallacious arguments for responsibility denial. (See also its companion volume, Punishment, Excuses, & Moral Development)
[2] Historical Lessons
• Against Power Inequalities: a history of the progressive struggle: provides a global history of the ideas and movements involved in tackling exploitation and oppression. (“Tam’s book is an intellectual tour de force, an erudite romp through the history of civilization that highlights the origins of power and the never-ending effort to democratize hierarchical systems through mobilized participatory communities.” – Charles Derber, Boston College, US)
• The Evolution of Communitarian Ideas: history, theory, and practice: provides a scholarly account of how ideas for developing more cooperative and inclusive communities developed over the centuries (“above all a powerful history of ideas, of great importance to our polarized age” – Professor Amitai Etzioni, author of The New Golden Rule).
[3] Expert Advice
• Whose Government is it? the renewal of state-citizen cooperation: brings together expert analyses and recommendations on how to empower citizens to have more informed and effective influence over public policies and practices (“instructive and inspiring to read … packed with insights for citizens and officials alike” – Peter Levine, Tufts University, US).
• Tomorrow's Communities: lessons for community based transformation in the age of global crises: a collection of analyses and case examples by leading researchers and practitioners of how communities can be transformed through inclusive partnerships between citizens, state bodies, and community groups.
• Who's Afraid of Political Education: the challenge to teach civic competence and democratic participation: contributions by leading experts in the UK, US and Australia on why political ignorance must be tackled, and how effective strategies and techniques can be developed and applied to enhance democratic understanding and engagement.
• Together We Can: brings together (a) resources developed under the national ‘Together We Can’ cross-government programme for civil renewal and community empowerment (2003-2010) [it was showcased as an exemplar at the 2008 international meeting of the Global Network of Government Innovators (USA)], and (b) publications relating to democratic engagement, public sector development, and deliberative participation.
[4] Topical Observations
• What Should Citizens Believe? exploring the issues of truth, reason & society: gives a general introduction to the challenge of resolving conflicting beliefs in society, and includes short essays to facilitate discussions about truth and reason in a democracy.
• Political Literacy and Civic Thoughtfulness: highlights the problem of political illiteracy, and how it can be tackled through the cultivation of civic thoughtfulness, using the 'Synetopia' framework in assessing the level of political aptitude and identifying key actions to be taken to attain improvements.
• ’Question the Powerful’ blog: lists a variety of resources for promoting objective reflections and discussions about social and political topics.
• Citizen Democracy: provides a collection of short articles on why and how we should develop citizen democracy – a more robust form of inclusive and deliberative governance.
[5] Novel Explorations
• Kuan’s Wonderland: an allegorical novel about the mysterious realm of Shiyan, where a young boy is brought before the institution known as Plutopia. “Original and very engaging” (Fantasy Book Review); “an unmissable page-turner” (President, the Independent Publishers Guild). Recommended by the Equality Trust. (For more information, go to Kuan’s Wonderland: a quick guide)
• Whitehall through the Looking Glass: a satirical tale about how a group of powerful corporations known as the Consortium came to take over the government of Britain and America. “[A] timely reminder of the dangers of the rapidly-accelerating corporatisation of our political and economic life.” (F. O'Grady, General Secretary, TUC); “We need Tam's absurdist vision of Whitehall to help wake us all up” (S. Duffy, Director, Centre for Welfare Reform). (For more information, go to Whitehall through the Looking Glass: a quick guide)
• The Hunting of the Gods: a saga set on a much transformed Earth where immortal rulers dictate terms to subjects who are brought up to fight against their foreign enemies until a resurrected stranger reveals to them the origins of the self-proclaimed gods. Questions are raised about microbotic technology, personal identity, and the widening gap between those who have a rich and prolonged life and those have nothing but insecurity.
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In addition to his wide range of writings on politics and society ('HT: Bibliography'), Henry Tam has led on many civic development initiatives through his work as Director, Forum for Youth Participation & Democracy (University of Cambridge); Head of Civil Renewal (Home Office, UK Government); Visiting Professor, Lifelong Learning (Birkbeck, University of London); and Director, Community Safety & Regeneration (Government Office, East of England).
He has been a guest speaker at the World Forum for Democracy (the Council of Europe); the Ash Institute for Democratic Governance and Innovation (Harvard, USA); the Institute of Sociology (Warsaw, Poland); the Society for Applied Philosophy; the Society for the Advancement of Socio-Economics; the Institute for Communitarian Policy Studies (Washington, USA); the Glencree Centre for Reconciliation (Ireland); the London Business School; the Oxford Centre for Advanced Study of the Social Sciences; Church Action on Poverty; South Place Ethical Society; UK’s National School of Government; and many other organisations.
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ACADEMIC & PROFESSIONAL RECOGNITION
• Fellow, Citizen Network (2015-present).
• Lecturer, Faculty of Education, University of Cambridge (2011-2015).
• Visiting Professor, School of Lifelong Learning, Birkbeck, University of London (2008-2011).
• Fellow, Globus Institute for Globalization and Sustainable Development, University of Tilburg, the Netherlands (2000-2008).
• Fellow, Chartered Institute of Marketing (1993-2011)
• Research Fellow, Centre for Citizenship Development, Anglia Polytechnic University (1992-1995).
• Diploma in Public Relations & Marketing, CAM (Communication, Advertising & Marketing) Foundation (1988).
• Ph.D in Philosophy, (Swire Scholar) the University of Hong Kong (1981-1984).
• BA/MA in Philosophy, Politics & Economics, (Neale Scholar) the Queen’s College, University of Oxford (1978-1981).
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Catch up with his political reflections on the Question the Powerful blog; and follow him via @henrytam on bsky.social (or via @HenryBTam on X formerly Twitter).
