The Geographies of Soft Paternalism in the UK

The Rise of the Avuncular State and Changing Behaviour after Neoliberalism

Bibliographic Data

ID5697126
AuthorsRhys Jones (0000-0002-2424-3459, V. B. Sochava Institute of Geography), Jessica Pykett (0000-0002-0036-9639, V. B. Sochava Institute of Geography), Mark Whitehead (0000-0001-6499-4719, V. B. Sochava Institute of Geography)
Year2011
Volume5
Issue1
Pages50-62
Publication date2011-01-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueGeography Compass (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1749-8198 • E-ISSN: 1749-8198
PublisherWiley (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1111/j.1749-8198.2010.00403.x
OpenAlexW2109489282
LanguageEN
Citations received29
References cited44

Soft paternalism or libertarian paternalism has emerged as a new rationality of governing in the UK under New Labour, denoting a style of governing which is aimed at both increasing choice and ensuring welfare. Popularized in Thaler and Sunstein’s best‐selling title, Nudge, the approach of libertarian paternalism poses new questions for critical human geographers interested in how the philosophies and practices of the Third Way are being adapted and developed in a range of public policy spheres, including the environment, personal finance and health policy. Focusing specifically on the case of the UK, this article charts how soft paternalism appeals to the intellectual influences of behavioural economics, psychology and the neurosciences, amongst others, to justify government interventions based on the ‘non‐ideal’ or irrational citizen. By identifying the distinctive mechanisms associated with this ‘behaviour change’ agenda, such as ‘choice architecture’, we explore the contribution of behavioural geographies and political geographies of the state to further understanding of the techniques and rationalities of governing

Choice architecture · Economics · Law and economics · Paternalism · Political economy · Political science · Politics · Positive economics · Rationality · Sociology · Welfare state · Homelessness and Social Issues · Housing, Finance, and Neoliberalism · Law · Political and Economic history of UK and US · Psychology · Social Psychology