Against Elections

The Case for Democracy

David Van Reybrouck, Liz Waters

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English

Bodley Head
18 July 2016

Politics & government; Elections & referenda

An ingenious, heretical and timely argument to save democracy from elections

Whenever there are elections, the results are the same- fear-mongering, division and broken promises. Against Elections offers a new diagnosis - and an ancient remedy.

'Excellent . . . Why does our system keep electing people whose incomes, assets, interests and psychology are hugely at variance with ours? Because that is what it is designed to do' George Monbiot, Guardian

'Very persuasive . . . invigorating' Daniel Finkelstein, The Times

As this ingenious book shows, the original purpose of elections was not democracy- it was to exclude the people from power by appointing an elite to govern over them.

In fact, for most of its 3000-year history, democracy did not involve elections at all- members of the public were appointed to positions in government through a combination of volunteering and lottery.

Based on studies and trials from around the globe, this hugely influential manifesto presents the practical case for a true democracy - one that actually works.

Urgent, heretical and completely convincing, Against Elections leaves only one question to be answered- what are we waiting for?

'Riveting' Irish Examiner 'Persuasive' Financial Times 'A convincing case' Observer

By: David Van Reybrouck
Translated by: Liz Waters
Imprint: Bodley Head
Country of Publication: United Kingdom
Dimensions: Height: 215mm, Width: 133mm, Spine: 15mm
Weight: 209g
ISBN: 9781847924223
ISBN 10: 1847924220
Pages: 176
Publication Date: 18 July 2016
Audience: Professional and scholarly , General/trade , College/higher education , Undergraduate , ELT Advanced
Format: Paperback
Publisher's Status: Active

David Van Reybrouck is considered 'one of the leading intellectuals in Europe' (Der Tagesspiegel) and is a pioneering advocate of participatory democracy. He founded the G1000 Citizens' Summit, and his work has led to trials in participatory democracy throughout The Netherlands. He is also one of the most highly regarded literary and political writers of his generation, whose most recent book, Congo: The Epic History of a People, won 19 prizes, sold 500,000 copies and has been translated into a dozen languages. It was described as a 'masterpiece' by the Independent and 'magnificent' by The New York Times.

Reviews for Against Elections: The Case for Democracy

[Against Elections is] quite a riveting book of political theory. -- Michael Duggan Irish Examiner He argues convincingly that electoral-representative democracy is in crisis because it increasingly lacks efficiency and legitimacy. -- Jack Jones Pensions Insight Very persuasive ... There are few new big ideas in politics and few answers to the serious challenge faced by democratic politics ... invigorating and advance[s] a promising practical idea ... fresh, challenging and uncomplicated -- Daniel Finkelstein The Times This fine iconoclastic work could not be more timely ... demonstrate[s] that far from safeguarding our right to self-determination, elections are actually impeding our democracy -- Karen Armstrong Mounts a convincing case that we have wrongly conflated democracy with elections Observer Van Reybrouck wants to revive a system in which government is not just for the people, but really by the people ... a persuasive description of a system designed to be soundly based in popular assent ... A President Trump might focus attention on his views Financial Times Choosing our rulers by popular vote has failed to deliver true democratic government: that seems to be the verdict of history unfolding before our eyes ... [this] may well be an idea whose time has come -- J. M. Coetzee A sovereign remedy for the raging crypto-oligarchy of our turbulent times -- Professor Paul Cartledge, author of Democracy: A Life