Link; I have not yet had time to read it but upon skimming it seems almost a sane reflection of how things actually work. What therefore worries me is that a politician is therefore going to try to stick a stake in the ground to “leverage” this…
This Report provides an important opportunity for the Government to consider how identities in the UK are changing and the possible implications for policy making over the next 10 years. For the first time, it brings together many areas of research into a single coherent narrative to analyse how drivers of change may affect identities in the UK in the future.
The findings are based on the most recent evidence from a wide range of authoritative sources. Over 100 academics and stakeholders have contributed to the development of this Report and the analysis is supported by 20 published evidence papers. I am particularly grateful to the lead expert group, chaired by Professor Chris Hankin, which has overseen the work.
Foresight has undertaken this research in response to growing evidence that the UK has undergone significant changes which affect how people see themselves and others. The economic downturn, the effects of globalisation, and increasing international migration have all been influential, while the impact of social media and modern communications technology have created a new ‘digital’ UK. In particular, the Report discusses an emerging trend towards ‘hyper-connectivity’, where mobile technology and the ubiquity of the internet enable people to be constantly connected across many different platforms. Hyper-connectivity is already removing any meaningful distinction between online and offline identities, while also blurring ‘public’ and ‘private’ identities. The trend could also act to increase the pace of change, leading to more dynamic and changeable identities and behaviours.
This Report shows that ‘identity’ is not a simple notion. People can have many different overlapping identities which are fundamental to their individuality. Identities can exercise a powerful influence on the health and wellbeing of communities, and the degree to which they can build up social capital. There are important implications for a range of policy issues, such as the collection and use of data by government and the private sector, how individual rights and liberties can be balanced against privacy and security, and how inclusive identities can best be promoted.
ht MarkC and BIS