Alex Plant reviews Big Society: A new agenda for social welfare? by Armine Ishkanian and Simon Szreter.

This timely collection of essays, edited by Simon Szreter, of Cambridge University, and Armine Ishkanian, of the London School of Economics, explores the various and often-conflicting themes inherent within the concept of Big Society – much lauded by prime minister David Cameron in the period running up to the last general election, but far less conspicuous since – although the recent launch of Big Society Capital has bucked the trend, along with the somewhat more enduring sister theme of 'localism'.