This month's Solace pamphlet, published by Guardian Public, explores contemporary social evils and the underlying problems that pose the greatest threat to society in the 21st century.
The pamphlet adds to the debate started by Joseph Rowntree Foundation (JRF) and the research it carried out from July 2007 to July 2008, when the book Contemporary Social Evils was published.
In the original project JRF asked the general public and the 'unheard voices' what they believed to be the main social evils threatening society. The foundation's research revealed not only a real willingness to engage and tackle problems that blight our society but also highlighted a vibrant and optimistic response from today's main political thinkers.
Solace pick up these themes with a 56-page pamphlet that is introduced by Julia Unwin, chief executive of JRF. She explains the reasons behind the inquiry and says the financial crisis that has since exasperated problems was not foreseen. Indeed, the political debate was more about how to divide the rewards of wealth.
"How could it be," she writes, "that at a time of great wealth during a period of unparalleled comfort and ease, that some people were able to express discomfort and ease?"
The unequal distribution of rewards has coarsened public life and left individuals feeling powerless and made communities into places of conflict, uncertainty and contested aspiration, she continues.
Those that responded to the foundation's call for views about the nature of modern social evils and the affects on communities and privileging of the individual and greed are now seen as forecasters of the problems that are now engulfing society.
David Halpern, the Institute for Government's director of research, looks at the government's response - from tackling inflation, crime, anti-social behaviour and climate change. There are also the political or moral projects such as eradicating child poverty.
Newcastle City Council's leader John Shipley, looks at the problems in his communities and warns that unemployment nationally could hit four million in the next three years. He calls for a freedom bill to "repeal the repressive legislation of successive governments of the past 20 years".
Stuart Etherington voices the concerns of the National Council for Voluntary Organisations and says the original report paints a picture of society ill at ease with itself and ill prepared to face the challenges ahead. To achieve change, he says, we need a healthy democratic institutions and a safeguarding of our rights and freedoms.
Families and their discontents are tackled by Mary Macleod, chief executive of the Family and Parenting Institute and Steve Houghton, leader of Barnsley Metropolitan Council looks at worklessness.
The decline of the community
The decline of the community is very much in evidence in Rob Whiteman's London Borough of arking & Dagenham, where his is chief executive. Many of the residents no longer feel a connectedness like previous generations when people went to the same schools lived in the same estates and worked at the same factories. Change must come through sustained and embedded community development, he writes.
The neighbourhood issue is also explored by Stephen Greenhalgh, leader of Hammersmith & Fulham council, and Jo Farrar, chief executive of Bridgend county borough council gives an insight into some of the problems with young people that have particularly affected her community in the past year.
South Tyneside is not without its problems and Irene Lucas, the council's chief executive says that building social capital and networks is the answer. Paul kelly outlines the corporate view and as Asda's corporate responsibility director he says that companies are now re-appraising their responsibilities in the wake of the global recession.
Fiona Ellis, formerly director of the Northern Rock Foundation, calls for a new respect agenda while consultant Paul Corrigan looks at health inequalities. Martin Narey and Anne Pinney from Barnado's explain the pressures and problems the young face, especially with the prospect of long-term unemployment and how to tackle the NEET issue (young people not in education, employment or training).
Solace director general David Clark finishes the interesting and lively debate by looking at the responsibilities of MPs and other members of elected bodies and calls for them to set a better example, particularly in the wake of the expenses scandal.
