Why being in charge isn’t as much fun as it used to be

In a networked world power is leaching from hierarchies to networks

Paul Hodgkin, Patient Opinion

Twitter: @paulhodgkin

Acknowledgement and thanks to Naim Moses and his book‘The End of Power: why being in charge isn’t what it used to be’ 2013

Power completely centralised

TyrannyNorth Korea

Power completelydiffused

Failed stateSomalia

Political and social stability,economic vitality

Space for democratic

action

From: ‘The End of Power: Why Being In Charge Isn't What It Used to Be’ Moises Naim 2013

There is a sweet point between tyrannyand chaos where civil society flourishes

Power completely centralised

TyrannyNorth Korea

Political and social stability,economic vitality

Space for democratic

action

Democratic and civil inventions that prevent tyranny• Universal suffrage, rule of law, due process• Free press• Literate, educated population

We have spent 300 years building institutions that prevent the concentration of power

Karl Marx said that it would take arevolution before the masses couldget their hands on the means of production

But it turned out that Steve Jobsand Bill Gates were happy to sell us all the means of productionat a very reasonable price

… and 3D printers means thisdoes not just apply to digital goods

So now we’ve got the revolution …..its just not the one that Marx predicted:

• Information is ubiquitous

• The cost of secrecy is rising, the cost of transparency is falling like a stone

• The cost of collaboration is falling for the citizen but rising for organisations

• Voice has been democratised – Blogs, Twitter, Flickr, YouTube

Power completelydiffused

Failed stateSomalia

Space for democratic

action

Drivers that disperse power:• Universal information, GPS, • Democratised voice: blogs, Twitter, FB• Transparency/end of privacy• Informed, empowered populace• Bewildered bureaucracies

This revolution tends to disperse power.

Power completelydiffused

Failed stateSomalia

Space for democratic

action

?

?

But we have less than 20 years experience of these networked driversWe have yet to build the civic institutions and mechanisms that could widen the space for civil society

IMAGINE

DIFFUSE

POWER

OCCUPY THE NHSNOW!

What would an ‘Occupy the NHS’movement look like? How could the NHS react creatively to this kind of diffuse, powerfulchallenge?

What institutions do we need to build that will mean this is an opportunity not a threat?

See full article

• Never disrupt clinical care or frighten other patients• Get staff on our side – they are as stressed as you• Look after yourself

- Use the hospital toilets and canteen – after all its our NHS- Keep warm- Go home when you’re tired, there will always be others to take your place

• Courteously hold management to account

• Tweet what they say using #ONNOW! • Upload your interactions with them to www.you.tube.onnow• Keep in touch nationally at www.OccupyTheNHS.org

How to Occupy the NHS – Possible house rules

OCCUPY THE NHS NOW!

Twitter: @paulhodgkin

Thank You (and good luck with the revolution)