Dr. Henry Benedict Tam is a writer, educator and policy advisor who has published extensively on how we should assess the acceptability of different political claims and government actions. His writings set out a comprehensive approach to the art of political criticism. Their respective contributions and relevance to enhancing civic enquiry are outlined below:
[1] Key Concepts - the Communitarian Case for Democracy & Cooperation
Ideas such as ‘freedom’, ‘cohesion’, ‘rights’, ‘responsibility’, ‘justice’, are used frequently to underpin foundational claims, even though they are often too vaguely expressed or distorted by flawed arguments. We cannot engage in fair and cogent examination of political arguments unless we clarify our use of key concepts.
• 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).
• Communitarianism: a new agenda for politics & citizenship: sets out why inclusive communities need to be developed; the importance of cooperative enquiry, mutual responsibility, and citizen participation; and policy implications for the public, private, and third sectors (“an excellent statement of the communitarian approach to politics and citizenship” – Professor Desmond King, University of Oxford). [See also its companion volume, Progressive Politics in the Global Age]
• 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 Perspectives - Learning from Past Development
Conflicting interpretations of the past can lead to significant differences in what values and practices are regarded as worthy of being pursued today. To move forward, we need to understand how previous problems were actually overcome, how ideas adapted over time to changing circumstances, and what reform approaches succeeded or failed.
• Against Power Inequalities: a history of the progressive struggle: provides a global history of the ideas and movements involved in tackling exploitation and oppression (“history retold as a panorama of struggle, hope and co-operation [by] a master storyteller” – Ed Mayo, Secretary General, Co-operatives UK).
• 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). [Forthcoming from Palgrave Macmillan]
[3] Practical Options - Guidance on State-Citizen Cooperation
It is often suggested that what matters is what ‘works’ in practice. But what counts as ‘success’ or ‘benefits’? And what arrangements are more likely to secure them? Disagreement over what is to be done in the name of the public interest should be resolved with reference to the relevant experiences and evaluations.
• 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).
• 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] Critical Challenges - How to Question the Powerful
Responsible citizens should not accept without question what they are told, but nor should they dismiss assessments or rules arbitrarily. It is important to develop a critical mindset that is disposed to deliberate with others on an evidential basis in reaching conclusions as to what merit our assent.
• 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’ a resource guide: lists a variety of resources for promoting objective reflections and discussions about social and political topics.
[5] Alternative Futures - the ‘Once Upon a Con’ series of dystopian satires
These novels depict disturbing social and political trends, highlight the power of rhetoric and misdirection, and explore what kinds of resistance and reform are urgently needed (see Once Upon a Con for an overview):
• 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. (For a list of the talks given, go to ‘The QTP Talks Series’)
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Catch up with his political reflections on the Question the Powerful blog; and follow his tweets on current events via @HenryBTam.
