Politicians of all shades seem to have got a new Big Idea - Civil Society.

Speeches are being made about it by Cabinet Ministers and William Hague is enthusiastic too .

This network of voluntary groups, charities, churches, mutual societies and neighbourhood associations is being heralded as a way to rebuild communities, solve the old debate about the State verses the Market and it even promises to make us better people.

The state does not know the best ways of doing everything and people in localities and communities and groups very often understand their own problems better

Dr John Reid, Scottish Secretary

Commentator and writer , Melanie Phillips asks why the sudden interest in civil society - a concept that 's been around for generations? Do people mean the same thing by civil society, what could it look like on the ground and will we like it if we get there?

Contributors include : Dr John Reid , the Scottish Secretary, who's recently delivered a speech on civil society Adele Blakebrough, a leading light in the voluntary sector David Green, who's just set up a new think tank on civil society Michael Jacobs from the Fabian Society And Professors John Gray ( London School of Economics ) and Norman Barry ( University of Buckingham. )

Producer: Jill Simpson