Against 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

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