In ancient Athens, the term "idiot" didn't signify a lack of intelligence but rather a private citizen who neglected their civic duties. So, by Athenian definition, the apathy many of us feel towards elections makes us, in a sense, modern-day idiots?
David Van Reybrouck, in "Against Elections," argues that our democracy is impaired by being limited to elections. He highlights its shortcomings by diagnosing the tension between a government's need for quick solutions (efficiency) and public approval (legitimacy). While elections aim to balance both, their legitimacy is waning due to electoral absenteeism, electoral volatility, and stifling of new voices. Additionally, efficiency suffers from inter-party distrust, the fear of voter backlash, and the complexities of globalization. These challenges contribute to a concerning trend called 'Democratic Fatigue Syndrome.'
During elections, professional politicians and powerful parties alienate citizens, as campaigning often prioritizes populism over policy discussion. Money and media further marginalize ordinary voices. So, even with wider suffrage, it's a government "for the people" more than "by the people." To address this, he explores historical alternatives to elections, particularly sortition - the random selection of representatives - as exemplified in ancient Athens and medieval Europe. He argues that randomly chosen citizens could be as effective, if not more so, than elected officials. Contemporary examples like Ireland's 2016 Constitutional Convention and Iceland's 2011 Citizen's Assembly, support this claim.
While acknowledging the potential benefits of sortition, he also identifies its challenges such as managing larger representative groups and striking a balance between the frequency of participation and the development of necessary experience. Concerns about groupthink and the manipulation of the sortition process are also raised. Thus, the author does not advocate for the complete abolition of elections but proposes a hybrid model where electoral and aleatoric representatives can collaborate. This, he contends, would foster a more diverse and accountable political system.
The author senses that if politicians view the population as fundamentally different from themselves, skepticism towards citizen participation is inevitable. He posits that treating responsible citizens merely as ballot fodder encourages passive behavior, whereas treating them as participants fosters active engagement. He believes that democracy can adapt and is shaped by communication methods. Ancient Greece thrived with spoken word, while the 19th/20th centuries saw democracy through newspapers and one-way media. Today's era of rapid, two-way communication demands a new, undefined form of democratic participation. Hence, throughout the book, the concept of deliberative democracy is emphasized, advocating for citizens to actively discuss and debate issues. Tools such as citizen juries and mini-publics exemplify this approach. By empowering citizens through informed participation, the author suggests that the limitations of elections can be overcome, revitalizing democracy.
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