Open Democracy : Reinventing Popular Rule for the Twenty-First Century

This book aims to change minds, develop intuitions, andexpand our imaginations by introducing into our conceptual toolbox a newparadigm of democracy and a new metaphor: open democracy. Open democracy is theideal of a regime in which actual exercise of power is accessible to ordinarycitizens via novel forms of democratic representation. Avoiding the pitfalls ofboth electoral democracy and direct democracy (as the wrong cure for theproblems of electoral democracy), the institutional paradigm of popular ruleoffered here is primarily non-electoral yet (more) democratically representativethan any existing regime form. This paradigm of open democracy can besummarized as “representing and being represented in turn.”The book recasts today’s “crisisof democracy” in a sunnier light—as the historic moment when it becomes obviousthat democracy’s meaning and potential are much greater than the sum ofelectoral moments to which democracy is currently reduced. It thereforereaffirms the value and meaning of people’s power. Perhaps now we may finally breakfree from old paradigms and threadbare institutions to reinvent popular rulefor the twenty-first century. Against some significant trends today, this bookresists the temptation to give up on democracy. It pursues instead theconstructive strategy of offering an alternative normative conception ofpopular rule, one true to the democratic values of inclusiveness and equality,and one we can use to imagine and design more participatory, responsive, andeffective institutions. Practically speaking, this book aims to nudge alongefforts to put people’s power back at the center of the institutions by whichsocieties rule and organize themselves. "To the Ancient Greeks, democracy meant gathering in a public space and arguing based on an agenda set by a randomly selected assembly of 500 other citizens. To the Icelandic Vikings in Northern Europe a few centuries later, it meant gathering every summer in a large field, a place where they held their own annual "parliament," and similarly talking things through until they got to relatively consensual decisions about the common's fate. Our contemporary representative democracies are very different. Modern Parliaments are intimidating buildings that are much harder to access for ordinary citizens-quite literally. They are typically gated and guarded, and it often feels as if only certain types of people-people with the right suit, accent, bank account, connections, even last names-are welcome to enter them. In Open Democracy, Landemore revitalizes the model of success from ancient open democracies alongside the problems of the present-day representative democracies in order to get to the heart of the issues which contemporary democratic societies are dealing with today. Something has been lost between the two, Landemore argues: accessibility; openness to the ordinary man and woman. Landemore believes the move to "representative" democracy, a mediated form of democracy seen as unavoidable in mass, commercial societies, also became a move towards democratic closure, and exclusivity. Open Democracy asks how can we recover the openness of ancient democracies in today's world, and would it help the crisis of democracy? In diagnosing what is wrong with representative democracy, Landemore offers a normative alternative and strategy-one that is more true to the democratic ideal of "government of the people, by the people, for the people." This alternative conception (open democracy) is one Landemore believes can be used to imagine and design more participatory, responsive, accountable, and smarter institutions, thereby strengthening our democracies along with on the whole, our societies"-- Provided by publisher "To the Ancient Greeks, democracy meant gathering in a public space and arguing based on an agenda set by a randomly selected assembly of 500 other citizens. To the Icelandic Vikings in Northern Europe a few centuries later, it meant gathering every summer in a large field, a place where they held their own annual "parliament," and similarly talking things through until they got to relatively consensual decisions about the common's fate. Our contemporary representative democracies are very different. Modern Parliaments are intimidating buildings that are much harder to access for ordinary citizens-quite literally. They are typically gated and guarded, and it often feels as if only certain types of people-people with the right suit, accent, bank account, connections, even last names-are welcome to enter them. In Open Democracy, Landemore revitalizes the model of success from ancient open democracies alongside the problems of the present-day representative democracies in order to get to the heart of the issues which contemporary democratic societies are dealing with today. Something has been lost between the two, Landemore argues: accessibility; openness to the ordinary man and woman. Landemore believes the move to "representative" democracy, a mediated form of democracy seen as unavoidable in mass, commercial societies, also became a move towards democratic closure, and exclusivity. Open Democracy asks how can we recover the openness of ancient democracies in today's world, and would it help the crisis of democracy? In diagnosing what is wrong with representative democracy, Landemore offers a normative alternative and strategy-one that is more true to the democratic ideal of "government of the people, by the people, for the people." This alternative conception (open democracy) is one Landemore believes can be used to imagine and design more participatory, responsive, accountable, and smarter institutions, thereby strengthening our democracies along with on the whole, our societies"-- Résumé de l'éditeur To the Ancient Greeks, democracy meant gathering in a public space and arguing based on an agenda set by a randomly selected assembly of 500 other citizens. To the Icelandic Vikings in Northern Europe a few centuries later, it meant gathering every summer in a large field, a place where they held their own annual "parliament," and similarly talking things through until they got to relatively consensual decisions about their common fate. Our contemporary representative democracies are very different. Modern Parliaments are intimidating buildings that are much harder to access for ordinary citizens-quite literally. They are typically gated and guarded, and it often feels as if only certain types of people - people with the right suit, accent, bank account, connections, even last names - are welcome to enter them. In this book, the author revitalizes the model of success from ancient open democracies alongside the problems of twenty-first century representative democracies in order to get to the heart of the issues which contemporary democratic societies are dealing with. Something has been lost between the two, the author argues: accessibility; openness to the ordinary man and woman. The author believes the move to "representative" democracy, a mediated form of democracy seen as unavoidable in mass, commercial societies, also became a move towards democratic closure, and exclusivity. This book asks how can we recover the openness of ancient democracies, and would it help the crisis of democracy? In diagnosing what is wrong with representative democracy, the book offers a normative alternative and strategy - one that is more true to the democratic ideal of "government of the people, by the people, for the people." This alternative conception (open democracy) is one the author believes can be used to imagine and design more participatory, responsive, accountable, and smarter institutions, thereby strengthening our democracies along with on the whole, our societies. -- Provided by publisher " Open Democracy envisions what true government by mass leadership could look like."—Nathan Heller, New Yorker How a new model of democracy that opens up power to ordinary citizens could strengthen inclusiveness, responsiveness, and accountability in modern societies To the ancient Greeks, democracy meant gathering in public and debating laws set by a randomly selected assembly of several hundred citizens. To the Icelandic Vikings, democracy meant meeting every summer in a field to discuss issues until consensus was reached. Our contemporary representative democracies are very different. Modern parliaments are gated and guarded, and it seems as if only certain people—with the right suit, accent, wealth, and connections—are welcome. Diagnosing what is wrong with representative government and aiming to recover some of the lost openness of ancient democracies, Open Democracy presents a new paradigm of democracy in which power is genuinely accessible to ordinary citizens. Hélène Landemore favors the ideal of "representing and being represented in turn" over direct-democracy approaches. Supporting a fresh nonelectoral understanding of democratic representation, Landemore recommends centering political institutions around the "open mini-public"—a large, jury-like body of randomly selected citizens gathered to define laws and policies for the polity, in connection with the larger public. She also defends five institutional principles as the foundations of an open democracy: participatory rights, deliberation, the majoritarian principle, democratic representation, and transparency. Open Democracy demonstrates that placing ordinary citizens, rather than elites, at the heart of democratic power is not only the true meaning of a government of, by, and for the people, but also feasible and, today more than ever, urgently needed. How A New Model Of Democracy That Opens Up Power To Ordinary Citizens Could Strengthen Inclusiveness, Responsiveness, And Accountability In Modern Societies To The Ancient Greeks, Democracy Meant Gathering In Public And Debating Laws Set By A Randomly Selected Assembly Of Several Hundred Citizens. To The Icelandic Vikings, Democracy Meant Gathering Every Summer In A Field To Discuss Issues Until Consensus Was Reached. Our Contemporary Representative Democracies Are Very Different. Modern Parliaments Are Gated And Guarded, And It Seems As If Only Certain People--with The Right Suit, Accent, Wealth, And Connections--are Welcome. Diagnosing What Is Wrong With Representative Government And Aiming To Recover Some Of The Lost Openness Of Ancient Democracies, Open Democracy Presents A New Paradigm Of Democracy In Which Power Is Genuinely Accessible To Ordinary Citizens. Hélène Landemore Favors The Ideal Of Representing And Being Represented In Turn Over Direct Democracy Approaches. Supporting A Fresh Nonelectoral Understanding Of Democratic Representation, Landemore Recommends Centering Political Institutions Around The Open Mini-public--a Large, Jury-like Body Of Randomly Selected Citizens Gathered To Define Laws And Policies For The Polity, In Connection With The Larger Public. She Also Defends Five Institutional Principles As The Foundations Of An Open Democracy: Participatory Rights, Deliberation, The Majoritarian Principle, Democratic Representation, And Transparency. Open Democracy Demonstrates That Placing Ordinary Citizens, Rather Than Elites, At The Heart Of Democratic Power Is Not Only The True Meaning Of A Government Of, By, And For The People, But Also Feasible And, Today More Than Ever, Urgently Needed. How a new model of democracy that opens up power to ordinary citizens could strengthen inclusiveness, responsiveness, and accountability in modern societies To the ancient Greeks, democracy meant gathering in public and debating laws set by a randomly selected assembly of several hundred citizens. To the Icelandic Vikings, democracy meant meeting every summer in a field to discuss issues until consensus was reached. Our contemporary representative democracies are very different. Modern parliaments are gated and guarded, and it seems as if only certain people--with the right suit, accent, wealth, and connections--are welcome. Diagnosing what is wrong with representative government and aiming to recover some of the lost openness of ancient democracies, Open Democracy presents a new paradigm of democracy in which power is genuinely accessible to ordinary citizens.Hélène Landemore favors the ideal of "representing and being represented in turn" over direct democracy approaches. Supporting a fresh nonelectoral understanding of democratic representation, Landemore recommends centering political institutions around the "open mini-public"--a large, jury-like body of randomly selected citizens gathered to define laws and policies for the polity, in connection with the larger public. She also defends five institutional principles as the foundations of an open democracy: participatory rights, deliberation, the majoritarian principle, democratic representation, and transparency.Open Democracy demonstrates that placing ordinary citizens, rather than elites, at the heart of democratic power is not only the true meaning of a government of, by, and for the people, but also feasible and, today more than ever, urgently needed