Nexus is a network for all those interested in contributing to debate on the priorities and policies of the current government.
It has been set up to be formally independent of any particular political party (though clearly, there are good lines of communication to both Labour and the Liberal Democrats), not least to create a space within which ideas and empirical issues can be debated at one remove from the immediate electoral and media pressures that face politicians.
Nexus is an umbrella structure within which individuals from a range of organisations can communicate and co-ordinate, and through which the public profile and influence of their ideas and work can be increased.
Nexus therefore has a two-fold purpose: to develop and extend centre-left thought, and to increase the profile and quality of public debate. Both of these functions share the same aim: to strengthen the ideas and empirical evidence on which policy is based.
Intellectuals and researchers can make a contribution not only to debates on specific policy issues, but also, in the longer term, by winning arguments over ideas and by changing the political and intellectual terms of debate. Nexus provides a structure through which those who wish to participate in this activity can get involved.
In practical terms, this translates into three functions.
First, the identification of who knows about, and is interested in, which issues. This is a basic and urgent need, as at present there exists no systematic method in the policy community for obtaining this information. In order to fill this need, the first activity has been the compilation of a database, incorporating the research activities and interests of academics who may wish to contribute to the projects sponsored by Nexus (if you wish to send us your own information, please fill out the questionnaire, which can be found in the How do I get involved? section).
Second, the network will connect people with overlapping interests and expertise in order to facilitate joint work and the development of policy-relevant thinking.
Third, the structure will strengthen the communication between policy-makers, think-tanks, the media, and the research and academic communities. Part of this activity involves identifying, in conjunction with policy-makers, areas that need further intellectual work, and part involves actively going to the media with our ideas and debates. Too many important ideas and pieces of evidence remain locked away in specialist journals - Nexus is intended to identify these and widen their exposure.
We are attempting to keep the structure of the Nexus network as flat as possible. The most important part of the network - its heart, if you like - is our database of interested participants.
In order to get the basic administration of the network done, such as data entry, the newsletter and so on, a core 'Working Group' has been formed. This consists of a group of six to eight volunteers who meet every few weeks. Nexus has also been set up as a limited company, with a Board of Directors, so that we can apply for funding and seek charitable status.
The Theme Groups
The intellectual activity of the network does not happen at the centre, but is focused around the emerging Theme-Groups. These Groups will, however, maintain close contact with the Working Group and with other intellectually related groups, especially over the issue of communication with the media.
The Working Group can assist with access to the media and, where necessary, may be able to help secure sponsorship for events such as seminars and conferences. If you are interested in contacting individuals with a specific expertise, either for academic or journalistic reasons (or indeed for policy-making reasons), please contact someone from the Working Group.
Who to Contact
David Halpern
Theme-Groups; Newsletter; Nexus publications
01223 740065 (w)
01223 740079 (f)
Stewart Wood
Theme-Groups; Nexus publications
Bill Thompson
Web Site
mobile: 0411 557361
Sarah Atkin
Conferences
Gerry Hassan
Nexus Scotland
Tel: 0141 423 3114
Getting Involved
NEXUS