Fishburn Hedges

08.09.2010

Books, we bloody love ‘em don’t we?  As their demise remains an all-too-frequent topic of conversation, it’s ironic that books tend to dominate the media headlines. Whether it’s the announcement of the Man Booker prize shortlist, the postponement of the Blair book signing in London or the latest academic or business tract to receive attention from our friends in government, there’s no escape from their traditional, old-world charms.  

Which brings me to another, all-too-frequent (and book-related) topic of conversation, and that’s Nudge.  Barely a day passes without some reference to the concept that authors Thaler & Sunstein summarise as "libertarian paternalism". 

But it’s not just the popularity of Nudge itself (as a way of guiding behaviour), but its increasing association with all things Tory and, in particular, its leader.  It’s too early to say whether we’ll look back with a wry (and probably embarrassed) smile when someone in 2020 utters the phrase "choice architecture", or whether the whole concept will have a real and lasting impact on (Big) society.  And it’s not even that new.  You can trace the first rumblings of a link between Nudge and Cameron back to July 2008 with an article in The Economist: Wink wink - the Tories are placing too much faith in interesting but limited ideas (subscription required). In typical Economist fashion, the article acknowledged the benefits to this new and fresh approach, but were sceptical as to whether it could support a whole new philosophical approach to government.  

Political bibles that have influenced Prime Ministers 

Which got me thinking: what are the political bibles, revered by those in power and which have had a decisive influence on the way we were governed?  For Blair it has to be The Third Way by sociologist Anthony Giddens (albeit this would have acted as his second bible), with maybe a soupcon of Will Hutton’s The State We’re In, published in 1995.  I’m not sure we can ascribe anything to the Major era, but with Thatcher we have some clear and unequivocal pointers, not least the work of the Chicago economists exemplified by Milton Friedman. And at an earlier juncture (1944 to be precise) we have The Road to Serfdom by Austrian economist and philosopher Friedrich von Hayek.  For the (Old) Labour years of Callaghan and Wilson, it becomes a little more difficult – I’d go with Keynesian economist J K Galbraith whose books became best sellers from the 1950s through to the 1970s.  Perhaps the one tome that best represents the most enduring nature of the genre is that favourite impossible charade - a book and a play, four words, first word 'T': The Ragged Trousered Philanthropist by Robert Tressell, which undertook a scathing analysis of the working class and the relationship with their employers. 

Perhaps more quoted than read, it was published in 1914.  I wonder if Nudge will enjoy similar longevity?  One thing's for sure - it'll be easier to guess at charades. 

Posted by Nick Wright