Having examined how current societies do harm to wellbeing I now turn to a more positive question: in light of current circumstances, what principles and practices might we best apply to change course and move toward wellbeing societies (World Health Organization, 2022a)? In putting together what we know about wellbeing with all the issues raised in the previous chapter, two broad areas of challenge for social and political change emerge, and both must be addressed to optimise chances of success. One of these, obviously enough, lies with the area of strategic practice; the planning and implementation of effective, practical actions by governments, communities, and individuals to cultivate supportive conditions for wellbeing. The other lies with the field of politics, and more specifically with the framework of political principles and values that define the role and responsibilities of government and the State.

One reason why this second group of issues really matters for change toward wellbeing societies is because, as we saw in the previous chapter, our present, harmful circumstances are already being shaped by existing answers to these questions, embedded in dominant belief systems and norms of political behaviour; holding a grip on people's understanding of their world, and being actively used to hold current conditions in place. Political leaders use these ideas to try to hide the widening space between their pretend good society and the reality of many people's lives.

Thus, the challenge of change requires action not only to expose how current beliefs and values act to create conditions harmful to wellbeing but also to formulate a positive, alternative view of what is possible. The latter task is the aim of this chapter. Here, the approach I will take is to address the following question: in light of our current circumstances, what set of political principles will best position governments to recognise wellbeing as a core ethical commitment and then to translate that commitment into effective policy? In all cases, the arguments I present for certain political principles for wellbeing will build on my proposed understanding of what wellbeing is and how it works, and the outline of current circumstances from the previous chapter.