Latest thinking

There's no business like social business

Blog

11 Nov 2011

Whilst being far from a new idea, those considering business as a force for social good have been in the minority over the past three decades of profit-driven capitalism. However, since 2008’s financial crash caused many to question the sustainability of such a system (David Harvey’s RSA Animate and Matthew Taylor’s annual lecture in June this year, to name but two) it seems more businesses are putting social impact at the heart of what they do. It’s a subject that many of our Fellows care deeply about.

From Chicago... to the RSA: two group facilitation methods to help you put an end to ‘aimless drift’

Blog

08 Nov 2011

Chicago gave rise to the radical community organising approach of Saul Alinsky (made famous by its Barack Obama connection - and a rather unexpected endorsement by David Cameron).

From goodwill to doing good

Blog

19 Oct 2011

Matthew Taylor

Stoke, Leicester, London, Belfast: great people are meeting and committing to action but how do we get to the next stage?

Stoking the flames of renewal

Blog

17 Oct 2011

Matthew Taylor

I hate Stoke on Trent. It is a place of pain, rain and misery. Before Fellows and friends from the Potteries denounce me, I should admit that my feelings are totally unreasonable and entirely based on having watched my beloved West Bromwich Albion get repeatedly beaten – usually in the bleak mid-winter - by their bogey team Stoke City.

Social Networks and Public Services (1)

Blog

06 Jul 2011

<!-- p.p1 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica} p.p2 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px} p.p3 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; color: #0225a3} li.li1 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica} span.s1 {letter-spacing: 0.0px} span.s2 {text-decoration: underline ; letter-spacing: 0.0px color: #0225a3} span.s3 {letter-spacing: 0.0px color: #000000} span.s4 {text-decoration: underline ; letter-spacing: 0.0px} ol.ol1 {list-style-type: decimal} -->David Brookes recently argued that our view of human nature should have profound implications for how we run public services.

The Greatest Speech since Abraham Lincoln's Gettysburg Address

Blog

23 Aug 2010

Jonathan Rowson

"Some are born posthumously", said Nietzsche, and the acuity of this remark hit me on learning of the death of Jimmy Reid.

Please read this - it might just be important

Blog

08 Jul 2010

Matthew Taylor

I know some of my blog posts are a bit silly or obscure but - if even if I say it myself - this one is worth reading ...

Is Rigorous Advocacy an Oxymoron?

Blog

04 Mar 2010

Jonathan Rowson

I gave a talk on the social and educational value of chess in Dallas, Texas recently. The person driving me to the event, John Jacobs, read on the blurb that I worked at the RSA, "a think tank in London", and asked, in a melodious southern drawl:  "I see that you work in a think tank. So what do you think about?"

Think Tank Clash

Blog

10 Feb 2010

Jonathan Rowson

Last night's Think Tank Clash at the South Bank Centre, organised by New Deal of The Mind was hopefully the first of many such events. Around 300 people were hosted by comedian Rory Bremner and  the atmosphere was as playful as it was political, with a pint or two enjoyed by many of the audience, and most of the participants. Reviews of the Think Tank Clash format so far have been good, though I am sure if the event is repeated it has scope to be even better.