News & Insights
Purists and Pragmatists – Consultation can expose significant tensions among stakeholders
From time to time, democracies provide the spectacle of a tussle between ideologies – or at least, philosophies
American politics, in 2013 for example, has been a historic battle between the Purists of the Republican tea-party movement and the more pragmatic elements on Capitol Hill. Thirty years ago the British Labour party found itself in similar convulsions. Some would say that the Conservative Party is still torn between radically different approaches to the European question.
Access to this content is exclusively for Institute members
Not a member? Unlock this article and more today by signing up for a Consultation Institute membership. Benefit from access to over 300 Topic Papers and Briefing Notes, discounted rates on all public training and more. Click on Join Now today to find out more and sign up.
Rhion Jones
More news
Starting 5th February, join us every Thursday from 11am to 12pm for informal, expert led discussions on consultation and engagement...
In January 2026, the UK government launched a public consultation on children’s smartphone and social media use, but with a...
January 2026 – tCI has reopened its membership programme, offering consultation and engagement professionals across the UK and globally access to...
