Democratic nation states remain far more capable of managing the circuit of coercion, taxation and legitimation than any transnational bodies. Geoff Mulgan More Quotes by Geoff Mulgan More Quotes From Geoff Mulgan All of nationalism can be understood as a kind of collective narcissism. Geoff Mulgan narcissism understood kind The idea of entrepreneurship applies as much in politics, religion, society and the arts as it does in business. Geoff Mulgan doe ideas art So is civil society prepared for the future? Probably not. Most organisations have to live hand to mouth, juggling short-term funding and perpetual minor crises. Even the bigger ones rarely get much time to stand back and look at the bigger picture. Many are on a treadmill chasing after contracts and new funding. Geoff Mulgan mouths hands looks All innovation is about letting go, saying goodbye to things to create space for the new. Geoff Mulgan space letting-go goodbye Societies advance through innovation every bit as much as economies do. Geoff Mulgan bits economy innovation The biggest barrier to dealing with climate change is us: our own attachment to habits that are hard to shift, and our great ability to park or ignore uncomfortable choices. Geoff Mulgan climate attachment choices All over the world, social innovation is tackling some of the most pressing problems facing society today - from fair trade, distance learning, hospices, urban farming and waste reduction to restorative justice and zero-carbon housing. But most of these are growing despite, not because of, help from governments. Geoff Mulgan distance zero government The most important innovators often don't need any technologies - just imagination and acute sensitivity to people's needs. Geoff Mulgan technology imagination people The most dynamic cities have always been immersed in the critical innovations of their time. Geoff Mulgan critical innovation cities One of the lessons of history is that even the deepest crises can be moments of opportunity. They bring ideas from the margins into the mainstream. Geoff Mulgan opportunity motivational inspirational Understanding capitalism is in some ways simple. At its best, capitalism rewards creators, makers and providers: the people and firms that create valuable things for others, like imaginative technologies and good food, cars and drugs. Geoff Mulgan technology simple people L'Oreal's slogan 'because you're worth it' has come to epitomise banal narcissism of early 21st century capitalism; easy indulgence and effortless self-love all available at a flick of the credit card. Geoff Mulgan credit self cards Spreading an idea is hard work. Geoff Mulgan hard hard-work ideas The smug complacency of technology adverts disguises a pretty mixed picture, with too many people not connected, too many passive users of technologies designed for interactive, and far too much talk about empowerment but far too little action to make it happen. Geoff Mulgan empowerment technology people Economies are complex beasts that need people to do an extraordinary range of tasks. Geoff Mulgan tasks people needs Governments that invest billions in new hardware still find it hard to accept that they might benefit just as much from systematic innovation in such things as child development or cutting crime. Geoff Mulgan cutting government children Science is, rightly, searching for drugs to arrest ageing or to slow the advance of dementia. But the evidence suggests that many of the most powerful factors determining how you age come from what you do, and what you do with others: whether you work, whether you play music, whether you have regular visitors. Geoff Mulgan drug powerful play In Britain, polls show large majorities in favour of mansion taxes and higher taxes on the finance sector. Geoff Mulgan favour finance majority Computing should be taught as a rigorous - but fun - discipline covering topics like programming, database structures, and algorithms. That doesn't have to be boring. Geoff Mulgan covering discipline fun By international standards, many of the U.K.'s policies for civil society are exemplary. However, there are concerns about constraints on civil liberties - particularly restrictions on free assembly and about the rising tide of everyday regulation has seriously impeded community activity - from organising street parties to helping children. Geoff Mulgan community party children
