Introduction
In the face of rising right-wing populism, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer and other leaders must not only govern competently but also ensure that reforms are visible, swift, and politically significant for swing voters. As many electorates begin to doubt the effectiveness of public policies in improving their lives, populism will continue to gain ground, fueled by the notion that progressive politics is mere technocratic jargon without tangible results.
The Global Failure of Progressive Governance
Democratic governments across the political spectrum have nearly universally failed to recognize this new terrain for political legitimacy. Many policy plans are based on outdated assumptions: the possibility of gradually building consensus, the political rewards of behavioral changes (such as adopting preventive healthcare systems), and the imposition of evidence-based policies over “alternative facts.”
Political Decision-Making and Fiscal Flexibility
This failure stems from a political decision. During wartime, fiscal rules are often disregarded. For instance, incoming German Chancellor Friedrich Merz convinced the Bundestag to relax Germany’s debt brake, constitutionally enshrined, to allow for extra-budgetary investments in infrastructure worth 500 billion euros (approximately 589 billion USD) and exclude defense spending above 1% of GDP from this limit.
The Pitfalls of Populist Rhetoric
While defense has always been a powerful tool for mobilizing citizens, populists use nostalgia for a mythical past when the nation was strong and united. This rhetoric will not serve those genuinely guiding the nation. Starmer’s recent speech, unintentionally evoking nationalism and racial undertones reminiscent of Enoch Powell’s “rivers of blood” speech, will only alienate many voters in the UK’s multicultural society.
Building vs. Reimagining Political Machinery
Progressives must choose between building more housing and similar “things” or reimagining the political and institutional machinery that enables these goods. The former may yield immediate victories, but only the latter can offer lasting transformation that voters won’t soon forget.
The Need for Agile and Creative Bureaucracies
To deliver substantial results swiftly, progressive governments must invest in creative and agile bureaucracies capable of executing tasks effectively. The situation demands not just ambition but also a better understanding of how reforms will be received in a political ecosystem characterized by short attention spans and deep distrust of institutions. Policies must be strategic (long-term) and tactical (short-term).
Focusing on Local Governance
Progressive governments should concentrate on local environments, the source of political legitimacy. Cities are ideal laboratories and winning grounds, where social and economic divisions are visible. Inclusive and experimental governance can yield direct, tangible results that voters perceive.
Learning from Digital and Design Teams
Governments can learn from their digital and design teams. The UK Government Digital Service and New York City’s Civic Design Studio have demonstrated how interdisciplinary teams working outside traditional silos can create new channels for citizen participation, streamline public services, and transform bureaucracy from within.
Climate Agenda and Policy Innovation
The climate agenda underscores the need to expedite the public sector. Despite compelling climate risk messages and strong scientific backing, large-scale necessary reforms haven’t been implemented. The green transition must be presented not just as an environmental issue but also as a defense strategy for lasting economic and territorial security. The UK’s new industrial strategy is a step in this direction.
Beyond Traditional Metrics
Democratic governments need new foundations for thinking about the economy, state management, and long-term value creation. This involves transcending narrow metrics like cost-benefit analysis or GDP growth, which reflect a linear logic no longer applicable to complex, adaptive, and interconnected problems like climate collapse, rising inequality, or technological disruption.
Institutionalizing Intellectual Change
This broad intellectual shift must be institutionalized throughout the public sector, including expert communities informing policy from within government to ensure results. Governments must create this capability as a core function of state management, not an add-on.
Conclusion
Right-wing populists have acted swiftly and created a powerful, well-organized movement with disproportionate influence, primarily by controlling the media narrative. Democratic governments must differentiate between populist illusions of speed and the reality of what’s needed for governance and capacity-building. The future of democratic governance depends on it.
About the Authors
Mariana Mazzucato is Professor of Innovation and Public Value at the University College London and author of “The Big Con: How the Consulting Industry Weakens Our Businesses, Infantilizes Our Governments and Warps Our Economies” (Penguin Press, 2023).
Rainer Kattel is Deputy Director of the Innovation and Public Purpose Institute at the University College London and a lecturer in its Public Policy and Management program.
© Project Syndicate, 1995 – 2025. www.project-syndicate.org
