What is happening to the public? Publicness appears to be in decline or retreat in the face of markets, consumerism and individualism. Yet questions of public participation, public governance and the reform of public services are at the top of the political agenda in many countries.

This book explores the emergence of new forms, sites and practices of publicness and the implications for public services. It examines the remaking of the public in the context of new formations of the nation, where issues of migration, diversity and faith challenge traditional forms of solidarity and citizenship. It suggests some of the ways in which the public domain is being recast around notions of civil society, community, and populist participatory politics.

This book is valuable reading for students of social policy, sociology and cultural studies and for those working in public services. Each chapter includes a series of case studies that illustrate the book's core concepts, making this a useful teaching resource.