Equality by lot

Clearly, “by the people” is a non-starter, so Nathan Gardels advises those readers of Noema magazine who are members of the benevolent, if a bit misguided, elites that if they wish to stem the rise of the authoritarian strongmen they better be “with” the people.

The rigid polarization that has gripped our societies and eroded trust in each other and in governing institutions feeds the appeal of authoritarian strongmen. Poised as tribunes of the people, they promise to lay down the law (rather than be constrained by it) […]

The embryonic forms of this next step in democratic innovation, such as citizens’ assemblies or virtual platforms for bringing the public together and listening at scale, have so far been mostly advisory to the powers-that-be, with no guarantee that citizen input will have a binding impact on legislation or policy formation. That is beginning to change.

[This takes us] a step closer to government “with” the people instead of just “for” the people […]

Citizens are not politicians. Mostly they are not activists or policy wonks. They are busy people with lives, families and work competing for their attention. If they are being asked to take the time and commitment to participate in the governance of their communities, it must be worth their while.

If deeper citizen engagement in governance is to be a serious alternative to ineffectual representation or handing over power to strongmen who promise to fix everything, the process must produce results that matter. Otherwise, participation will be regarded as a performative ploy that makes no difference, fostering an even more cynical and resigned body politic that is the most fertile ground for the designs of demagogues or despots, large and small.

Filed under: Deliberation, Elections, Participation, Press, Sortition | Tagged: Adressing the elites |