Civic punk: a definition

*This is a repost of a google doc I wrote back in 2020

UPDATE: Turns out I am not the first person to be thinking along these lines. Check out this great talk on Open Data as Punk by Michael Byrne (shout out to Jennifer Pahlka for making the connection)

Civic — activities relating to building/strengthening a community, city or country

Punk — a person with a rebellious streak who challenges the status quo

I got into government because I believe that, at its core, it is the collective arm of a community. It is where we come together to decide our values and create laws and policies to help us best live out those values. It is where we pool our resources to invest in collective projects that benefit the whole community. It is also the most powerful arm for tackling the great challenges of our time.

I also believe that the government is fundamentally broken. It is falling short of this promise, leading to anger, disillusionment and apathy. I wanted to be part of fixing this. I started on the outside as a researcher and activist, and through this, I met many amazing people who shared this passion. But after years of activism, I felt like I was not getting anywhere, so I changed tactics and moved into government to try and change it from the inside. I went in with scepticism towards people who worked in the government, feeling that they were part of the problem. I was, therefore, surprised to discover that many people on the inside shared my desire to fix government. People who saw their work as an act of service to their country and community.

Both the people outside and inside the system inspired me. Although they took different approaches, they shared a common vision and desire for a government that met the promise of democracy. These reformers shared common characteristics.

They were shameless optimists. They believed the system could be better and they had the power to change it.

They were rebels, pushing against the status quo and challenging heavily entrenched ways of working and thinking. They were not afraid to challenge authority.

They were entrepreneurs and experimenters, trying new things and blazing new paths without clear roadmaps.

They were people-centred, constantly thinking about how to take a user-centred approach to their work.

They often considered power and justice, how they manifested in their work, and how they could shift it to be more just.

They were risk takers, not afraid of failing early and often if it was working towards a better future.

Though they shared these common values, something seemed to be missing—some common identity. Then, one day, as I was reading up on the history of the Internet, I came across the cypherpunk movement, and I thought, yes, this could work.

So, I am using this blog to propose a name for this identity: Civic Punk.

Civics implies a focus on the community, city, or country. Civic duty is about doing your part to make your community better. This embodies the very heart of what these people are about. They live to improve their community and their government for the greater good of everyone.

Punk, for me, is the special sauce. It implies a sense of rebelliousness, a chip on one’s shoulder, and not being afraid to challenge authority. A dislike of the status quo and drive to do things differently. I see this when I talk with these people, and it resonates with my feelings. I know punk can have a negative connotation, but I like something about it. Maybe it's because I was a bit of a punk in my younger days. Also, we are starting to reclaim some of these terms and see them in a new light; think of how the term hacker has evolved, and things like life hacking have become positive things to strive towards.

Civic Punks are everywhere. They are both in and out of the system. Some wear ripped jeans and plain T-shirts, others wear suits. Some are computer hackers, others are policy wonks or community organizers. Some try to create change by pushing back on the system, and others try to do so through building something new (e.g. innovative programs). There is a great diversity of types of people, approaches and job paths. Still, the common thread is an ethos of civic duty combined with a willingness to challenge the status quo to build a better government for a better society.

If any of this sounds like you, you are a #civicpunk in my books. Wear the name like a badge of honour. And don’t worry—you are not alone. We are everywhere and changing the world together!

(Image credit: Unsplash)