Politics Without Politicians by Hélène Landemore review – power to the people
A radical proposal to replace career politicians with a more participatory, deliberative model is examined, arguing for power to the people rather than career bureaucrats. The author envisions mechanisms like sortition, citizen assemblies, and enhanced public deliberation to democratize decision-making and reduce elite capture.
The review discusses practical hurdles, including ensuring legitimacy, scale, and coherence of policies produced through random selection processes. It also considers potential safeguards against populism, manipulation, and unequal participation.
Overall, the piece weighs ambitious reforms against real-world political constraints, asking whether such a transformative shift can be implemented within existing institutional frameworks and political cultures.