Following a public engagement workshop in June hosted by the Institute of Historical Research in Senate House which looked at how Mass Observation could be used to develop a better understanding of political engagement, Jonathan Moss and Emily Robinson have had a policy paper published by the network, History and Policy entitled ‘Mass Observation and Political Engagement in Britain’.

Following a record-low turnout at the 2024 general election, declining levels of political trust and efficacy, and calls from the British Polling Council for greater methodological pluralism and the use of more mixed-methods approaches to better understand Britain’s political culture, Moss and Robinson explore how political studies might develop new methods for understanding engagement.

Arguing that Mass Observation (MO) offers policymakers and campaigners a deeper understanding of the moods underlying political disaffection in the UK, Moss and Robinson propose that MO should be revived – and funded – as a public resource for democratic reflection. MO offers rich, qualitative material that helps illuminate the emotional and experiential dimensions of political life, providing a deeper understanding of the present moment.

The paper draws historical parallels between today and the 1930s, when MO was first established. Its founders were concerned about voter apathy and political disengagement, seeking to develop new ways for policymakers to understand public sentiment – whilst also raising political awareness among citizens in a time of polarisation and extremism.

There are clear echoes of that context today. The paper makes the case for reviving MO as a political resource, securing its long-term future, and funding it in a similar way to the British Social Attitudes survey.