In contrast, Old Labour sees the third sector as limited to campaign
organisations. For an organisation to do any more than campaign is to
undermine the state's proper role. In the worst case people become vassals
to the leaders aims.
While the "Third Way" as represented in NY tomorrow is a PR Alliance aim at
providing an alternative to Thacther/Reagan propaganda machine; a new agenda
for progressives is needed. It will take years to define.
Manuel Castells analysis of the emerging network society is a useful
contribution. (Including his analysis of statism and the failure of the
USSR).
Might not progressive networks be networks of locally own organisations? New
networks build around the learning from the experience of existing Third
Sector Organisations. Government can do much to facilitate such
organisations, enabling wide participation and limited regulation to ensure
accountable organisation develop.
These organisations need to go beyond both the conservative volunteer
approach and the campaign group approach. They need to become economic
units, using assets and income for community benefits.
This includes groups like
* Poptel, a worker owned firm which builds internet access for the left.
* Cafi Direct, creating a better deal for coffee farmers who in turn are
organised into farmer control co-operatives
* Britain's new Credit Union movement who are providing an alternative loan
sharks on housing estates
* Development Trust who give local people a said in training programmes
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