The importance of relationships in government

Geoff Mulgan, Nesta's chief executive, argues that relationships are playing an increasingly vital role in government

The idea of having a relationship with government may strike you as odd. Yes you have to pay your taxes, vote every now and then, obey the law and use a hospital when you're sick. But the world of relationships – personal, intimate, messy – is far removed from the world of bureaucracies and rules.

That may be changing. Just as business has had to learn how to relate to customers rather than only providing for them, so are there signs that governments are having to learn very new skills.

To understand why this is happening we have to go back a generation...


To read more on how the role of government is evolving download Geoff's paper, published today by IPPR as part of a new collection: 'The relational state: How recognising the importance of human relationships could revolutionise the role of the state'.

Download the full publication here.