I’d like to talk to you about the octopus.
Six years ago, I read Other Minds by Peter Godfrey-Smith, a celebration of the unique intelligence of octopuses and other cephalopods. A key feature of cephalopods is their distributed nervous system; and in the case of octopuses, the majority of their neurons are in their arms, which are capable of touch, smell, taste, and even short-term memory. Godfrey-Smith, in words which could have been lifted from the vernacular of government, describes the blend of “localized and top-down control” that allows the octopus to hunt for food, make friends, and assess risks.
Ever since, I have considered the octopus to be the ideal model of devolution – where the brain is central government and the arms local government (combined authorities being part of this family). Too much of the politics of devolution focuses on red lines, postcode lotteries, and unhelpful binaries, and the octopus model overcomes that.
Here are three reasons why:
- Coordination matters more than control: the form of the octopus allows for flexibility and autonomy, and this creates both potential and risk. The octopus’ brain developed to bring coherence, coordination, and regulation to its complexity, and only overrides the arms at need.
- It’s a partnership, not a battle: while the arms enjoy a level of independence – e.g. when following the scent of food – the brain and the arms work together to achieve a shared goal, each playing to their strengths.
- Develop the capacity, the rest will follow: in developing neural complexity to coordinate a complex form, other useful “capacities” emerge.
This, to me, creates an exciting model for devolution. Let the centre set a coherent direction, standards, and connect the different parts of government. Having done so, let the arms have their space – both to achieve the missions of government but also to develop and innovate.
Claire Spencer
Associate Director – Public Sector & Politics, The Leadership Centre
***This article was first published in The MJ in July 2024.***