Politics Without Politicians: The Case for Citizen Rule

Politicians have failed us. But democracy doesn’t have to. Bought by special interests, detached from real life, obsessed with re-election. Politicians make big promises, deliver little to nothing, and keep the game rigged in their favour. But what can we do? With disarming clarity and a deep sense of urgency, acclaimed political theorist Hélène Landemore argues that electoral politics is broken but democracy isn’t. We’ve just been doing it wrong. Drawing on ancient Athenian practices and contemporary citizens’ assemblies, Landemore champions an alternative approach that is alive, working, and growing around the world: civic lotteries that select everyday people to govern, not as career politicians but as temporary stewards of the common good. When regular citizens come together in this way, they make smarter, fairer, more forward-thinking decisions, often bringing out the best in one another. Witnessing this process firsthand, Landemore has learned that democracy should be like a good party where even the shyest guests feel welcome to speak, listen, and be heard. With sharp analysis and real-world examples, drawing from her experience with deliberative processes in France and elsewhere, Landemore shows us how to move beyond democracy as a spectator sport, embracing it as a shared practice—not just in the voting booth but in shaping the laws and policies that govern our lives. If you’ve ever felt powerless, Politics Without Politicians will show you how we can take back democracy.