The Change We Need: The Change We Need

Labour has a long history of looking across the Atlantic for inspiration. The founders of New Labour were famously influenced by Bill Clinton and his New Democrats and innovations such as the War Room, workfare and triangulation helped equip the party for the political and economic challenges of the 90s. So it is again in 2009 that Labour looks to America and the Democrats, as it seeks to renew itself after nearly twelve years in government and find a new politics to fit changed times.

Barack Obama’s 2008 campaign was a beacon of hope not just to Americans but to progressives across the world. The Change We Need: What Britain can learn from Obama’s victory is a collection of essays published by the Fabian Society and edited by Nick Anstead and Will Straw that looks at all aspects of Obama’s  amazing – and unlikely – success and asks at every stage what lessons are applicable to the Labour Party.

Chapters:

Foreword: Rt Hon Gordon Brown MP

Introduction: Nick Anstead and Will Straw

Retrospective on the election: divisiveness and democracy: Robert Y Shapiro

Gender and the election: Kate Kenski

The power of storytelling: David Lammy MP

A British movement for change: Ben Brandzel

‘Respect, empower and include’: the new model army: Karin Christiansen and Marcus Roberts

The web 2.0 election: Jennifer Stromer-Galley

Blogging the election: Faiz Shakir

The democratising force of fundraising: Matthew McGregor

Data-driven politics: Yair Ghitza and Todd Rogers

Campaigning for Congress: Rep. Glenn Nye with Robert Gerber

Conclusion: Nick Anstead and Will Straw

You can buy a printed copy edition of The Change We Need for £9.95, plus £1 p+p, by phoning the Fabian Society bookshop on 020 7227 4900, emailing us at bookshop@fabian-society.org.uk or send a cheque payable to “The Fabian Society” to 11 Dartmouth Street, London, SW1H 9BN.