Response: beyond anti-politics through democratic innovation.

AuthorEscobar, Oliver

Since support for democracy as an ideal remains high, interpretations of anti-politics often point to the pitfalls of 'actual democracy' and its engine: party politics. Consequently, Clarke, Jennings, Moss and Stoker outline reasonable recommendations to improve practices and perceptions of party politics. But this ignores the web of relationships (media, interests, allies, foes ...) that entangles and constrains politicians. Based on their insightful research, the authors (laudably) want to foster more genuine engagement between citizens and politicians, convinced that 'talking, engaging, explaining ... will defeat antipolitics'. But can our current democratic processes and institutions enable high quality engagement? Can a new game be played on the same board, with the same rules?

We should expect more from elected representatives, but perhaps we must first create the conditions for new forms of democratic leadership. Democratic innovations--processes and institutions that enable direct participation of citizens in political decision making--can do this. Well-known examples include participatory budgeting, online crowdsourcing, citizen ballot initiatives, and mini-publics (citizens' assemblies and juries, consensus conferences, planning cells), and the field exudes experimentation with new innovations and hybrids (see www.participedia.net). Such innovations are happening in local, national and transnational contexts, on issues ranging from finance, to energy, environment, public services, electoral reform and constitution-making. They show that when citizens are supported to participate, learn about issues, perspectives and tradeoffs, and deliberate with diverse others under appropriate conditions, they can engage with complex debates and offer considered judgements to inform decision making. (1) Far from perfect, democratic innovations bring new challenges, but also the potential to redesign our institutions and create a deeper form of democracy.

Clarke et al. state: 'We are not opposed to democratic innovations. but we think the main message of citizens to politicians is: do your own jobs better!' This overlooks the possibility that politicians may do their jobs better precisely by drawing on democratic innovations. These can help increase transparency in decision making; place values, evidence and public reasoning at the heart of policy making; diminish undue influence by lobbyists; and increase legitimacy and trust in our...

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