This site is mainly about Government. How big (or small) it is or should be, what it does, how it does it and why it does it – and if it creates or destroys value (spoiler – sometimes both).
I have renamed it STATECRAFT – improving government.
Why STATECRAFT?
What I’ve been doing for the past 3+ decades is constructively criticising Government, and public services, to try and help improve them.
But I have come to realise that many meso (middle) and micro level reforms are not enough.
It also includes some broader politics issues I’ve been involved with in my 50+ years of political engagement (I went on my first CND demo in November 1967).
I chose Dover Castle as an image because it embodies ‘Government’ from Norman times right up to it being a ‘Regional Seat of Government’ in the event of a nuclear attack in the Cold War period. And because I grew up in Dover under its shadow in that period (1952-65). Maybe that started my lifelong interest in Government – who knows?
This site is also a record of some of my other activities and history (mainly as a repository for myself, family and friends).
I was until 2017 Professor of Government in Department of Politics, School of
Social Sciences, University of Manchester . I am now retired from Manchester but remain an Emeritus (life-long) Professor there.
I’m now also a Fellow (Visiting) at the Judge School of Business, University of Cambridge. And a Senior Research Fellow at The Federal Trust.
All views expressed on this blog are purely my own, unless written by, or nicked from, other people.
Email: colin.talbot@manchester.ac.uk
Twitter: @colinrtalbot
STATECRAFT - improving government 