Lethbridge, Jane ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0094-9967 (2026) How Democratic professionals can contribute to Democracy: reflections on John Boswell, how citizens encounter the Democratic state. The Political Quarterly (PQ). ISSN 0032-3179 (Print), 1467-923X (Online) (In Press) (doi:10.1111/1467-923x.70129)

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Abstract

This paper applies a democratic professional lens to John Boswell’s (2026) How Citizens Encounter the Democratic State Weapons of the Meek at the Frontlines of Public Services (OUP). Democratic professionalism is defined as an approach that enables public services professionals to work more democratically with clients and other public service users. Its three principles: plurality of expertise; helping to shape the public realm and taking action are illustrated in the paper by examining how democratic professionalism has worked in the austere state, the neo-liberal state and the carceral state. The three chosen cases are the Leeds City Council Family Valued programme, the response by local schools to the Grenfell Fire and the response by probation officers to privatisation proposals. The paper concludes that more needs to be understood about the changes taking place in the different forms of the state and their implications for democracy.

Item Type:	Article
Uncontrolled Keywords:	democratic professionalism, privatisation, neo-liberalism, citizens, expertise, plurality
Subjects:	J Political Science > J General legislative and executive papers J Political Science > JA Political science (General) J Political Science > JC Political theory
Faculty / School / Research Centre / Research Group:	Greenwich Business School Greenwich Business School > Centre for Research on Employment and Work (CREW) Greenwich Business School > School of Management and Marketing
Last Modified:	10 Sep 2026 08:34
URI:	https://gala.gre.ac.uk/id/eprint/54377

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