Politics Without Politicians

Politicians have failed us. Bought by special interests, detached from real life and obsessed with re-election, they make big promises, deliver nothing and keep the game rigged. Is this really the best that democracy can offer? In Politics Without Politicians, acclaimed political theorist Hélène Landemore proposes a radical idea: what if we didn't need politicians at all? What if everyday people - under the right conditions - could govern better than the elites in office? Landemore dismantles the myths that keep power in the hands of the few: that ordinary people are too biased, too ignorant, too easily swayed. The truth? Politicians have the same flaws, but with far greater incentives to serve vested interests. Meanwhile, when regular citizens deliberate, they make smarter, fairer, and more forward-thinking decisions. This book reimagines democracy as a system where power belongs to the people: not just in the voting booth, but in truly shaping the laws and policies that govern our lives. With sharp analysis and real-world examples from citizens' assemblies shaping constitutional change to deliberative councils tackling climate policy, this is not a book about what's wrong: it's a manifesto for what's possible. Grounded in hope and practical solutions, Politics Without Politicians provides a necessary roadmap for a new era of democratic governance. If you've ever felt powerless, this book will show you how ordinary people can take back democracy.