Retrieving the Big Society presents a collection of essays that challenge the view of Britain's Big Society as a political gimmick and recognise it as an alternative to the central state in social and economic governance. * Offers an original and critical take on the idea of the Big Society * Attempts to make sense of the Big Society by placing in the context of the history of localism, mutualism, and voluntarism * Features contributions by experts on British politics and political theory