Key Takeaways
1. The Citizen Story: A New Paradigm for Human Potential
There is still hope. The future is up for grabs.
A new narrative is emerging. The Citizen Story posits that humans are inherently creative, capable, and caring creatures. This paradigm shift recognizes our potential to actively shape the world around us, cultivate meaningful connections, and take responsibility for societal challenges.
Key elements of the Citizen Story:
- Emphasis on collective action and collaboration
- Recognition of individual agency and responsibility
- Focus on participation rather than passive consumption
- Belief in the power of diverse perspectives and experiences
The Citizen Story offers a path forward in addressing complex global issues such as economic insecurity, ecological emergencies, and political polarization. By tapping into our innate capacity for citizenship, we can reimagine and rebuild our institutions, creating a more sustainable, inclusive, and joyful future.
2. Consumer and Subject Stories: Outdated Models Shaping Society
Stories matter. They can trap us, but they can also inspire us.
The Consumer Story dominates modern society. This narrative portrays humans as self-interested individuals whose primary role is to consume goods and services. It emphasizes competition, personal choice, and the pursuit of material success.
Key features of the Consumer Story:
- Focus on individual desires and instant gratification
- Belief in market forces as the primary driver of progress
- Reduction of citizens to mere customers or clients
The Subject Story predates consumerism. This older narrative casts people as subjects of a higher authority, whether monarchs, religious leaders, or the state. It emphasizes obedience, duty, and acceptance of one's predetermined role in society.
Both stories have shaped our institutions and behavior, often limiting our potential for collective action and meaningful change. Recognizing these narratives is the first step in breaking free from their constraints.
3. Citizens Everywhere: Everyday Heroes Transforming Communities
Citizens of every race, colour and creed are finding one another, getting organised, building tools, and building the future.
Citizenship in action is widespread. The book highlights numerous examples of ordinary people making extraordinary contributions to their communities and beyond. These "emblematic Citizens" demonstrate the power of engaged individuals to drive positive change.
Examples of Citizen action:
- Immy Kaur revitalizing Birmingham through community initiatives
- Kennedy Odede founding SHOFCO to empower Kibera slum residents
- Bianca Praetorius innovating in German politics
- Reen Ekkeshis campaigning for contact lens safety
- Billy Dasein leading community regeneration in Grimsby
These stories illustrate that citizenship is not limited to formal political participation but encompasses a wide range of activities that contribute to the common good. They serve as inspiration and proof that individual actions, when combined, can lead to significant societal transformations.
4. Citizenship as Practice: Beyond Legal Status to Active Engagement
Citizenship-as-practice is something we can all do.
Redefining citizenship as action. The book distinguishes between citizenship-as-status (legal rights and obligations) and citizenship-as-practice (active engagement in shaping society). This broader conception of citizenship emphasizes participation, responsibility, and the cultivation of meaningful connections.
Key aspects of citizenship-as-practice:
- Engagement in local and global issues
- Development of skills like empathy, communication, and collaboration
- Recognition of interdependence and shared responsibility
- Continuous learning and adaptation
By embracing citizenship as a practice, individuals can overcome feelings of powerlessness and actively contribute to addressing societal challenges. This approach recognizes that everyone has something valuable to offer, regardless of their legal status or background.
5. Unlocking Purpose: NGOs as Catalysts for Citizen Empowerment
NGOs need to refocus their attention on the third side of the triangle: the relationship between their supporters and the reason for their existence.
Rethinking the role of NGOs. Many non-governmental organizations have become trapped in a Consumer Story mindset, focusing on delivering services to passive recipients. The book argues for a transformation of NGOs into enablers and facilitators of citizen action.
Key shifts for Citizen-oriented NGOs:
- Emphasizing relationships between supporters and causes
- Involving beneficiaries in decision-making and program design
- Creating opportunities for meaningful participation
- Measuring impact in terms of increased citizen agency
Examples like the National Trust's transformation and the Guardian's shift towards reader-supported journalism demonstrate how organizations can unlock their purpose and empower citizens. This approach not only increases impact but also builds stronger, more sustainable relationships with supporters.
6. Business as Platform: Engaging Customers as Participants
Purposeful businesses need to become platforms enabling people to undertake purposeful action in the world, as opposed to trying to deliver on purpose for people, without our involvement.
Transforming business models. The book challenges businesses to move beyond simply selling products or services to creating platforms for meaningful citizen engagement. This shift requires rethinking customer relationships and corporate purpose.
Seven modes of everyday participation:
- Tell stories
- Gather data
- Share connections
- Contribute ideas
- Give time
- Learn skills
- Crowdfund
Companies like BrewDog and the Co-op Group demonstrate how businesses can create opportunities for customers to become active participants in their purpose. This approach not only leads to more engaged customers but also contributes to solving societal challenges.
7. Citizen Government: Prototyping Democracy for the Future
Taiwan's turnaround from the brink of a return to Subject Government in 2012 to Covid-ready Citizen Government by 2020 shows us what government looks like in the Citizen Story; it also shows us how we might get there, and promises us the journey could be fast.
Reimagining governance through citizen participation. The book highlights Taiwan's transformation as a model for Citizen Government, emphasizing rapid prototyping, iterative processes, and widespread engagement.
Key elements of Citizen Government:
- Digital platforms for policy-making and deliberation
- Citizens' Assemblies for complex decision-making
- Participatory budgeting and local empowerment
- Open-source approaches to problem-solving
Examples like vTaiwan, Ireland's Citizens' Assembly on abortion, and local initiatives in Barking and Dagenham demonstrate the potential for more responsive, inclusive, and effective governance. The book argues that adopting these approaches can revitalize democracy and address complex societal challenges.
8. Facing the Crossroads: Sovereign Individuals vs. State Control
Despite the bandwidth and airwaves devoted to both of these dystopias, the choice is not down to Sovereign Individual vs China. There is the Citizen Future.
Two competing visions threaten the Citizen Future. The book warns of two dystopian alternatives emerging as the Consumer Story collapses: the "Sovereign Individual" vision of tech elites and the authoritarian state control exemplified by China.
Sovereign Individual vision:
- Extreme individualism and rejection of state authority
- Reliance on cryptocurrency and private enclaves
- Concentration of power in the hands of a tech elite
Chinese model:
- Pervasive surveillance and social credit systems
- Centralized control of technology and information
- Suppression of dissent and individual freedoms
The book argues that the Citizen Story offers a viable alternative to these extremes, emphasizing collective action, distributed power, and democratic engagement with technology and governance.
9. The Anti-Hero: Embracing Collective Action over Individual Heroism
There is no space for heroes in this work.
Moving beyond the hero narrative. The book concludes by challenging the pervasive culture of individual heroism, arguing that it reinforces existing power structures and hinders collective action.
Problems with the hero culture:
- Reinforces individualism over collaboration
- Perpetuates savior complexes and disempowerment
- Limits our understanding of leadership and success
- Often excludes marginalized voices and experiences
Instead of seeking individual heroes or saviors, the Citizen Story calls for embracing collective action and distributed leadership. This approach recognizes the value of diverse perspectives and the power of collaborative problem-solving in addressing complex societal challenges.
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Review Summary
Citizens receives mostly positive reviews, praised for its inspiring and thought-provoking ideas about civic engagement. Readers appreciate its practical examples and hopeful outlook on societal change. The book is seen as a crucial text for understanding modern politics and empowering individuals. Some critics find it too idealistic or lacking in depth, while others consider it transformative. Many reviewers highlight the book's emphasis on shifting from a consumer mindset to one of active citizenship, with particular praise for its discussion of Taiwan's citizen-driven governance model.