Politics Without Politicians

The Case for Citizen Rule

De: Hélène Landemore

Politicians have failed us. But democracy doesn’t have to.

Bought by special interests, detached from real life, obsessed with reelection. Politicians make big promises, deliver little to nothing, and keep the game rigged in their favor. But what can we do?

In Politics Without Politicians, acclaimed political theorist Hélène Landemore asks and answers a radical question: What if we didn’t need politicians at all? What if everyday people—under the right conditions—could govern much better?

With disarming clarity and a deep sense of urgency, 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.

This is not a book about what’s wrong—it’s a manifesto for what’s possible. If you’ve ever felt powerless, Politics Without Politicians will show you how “We the People” take back democracy.

Reseñas de la Crítica

“A must read for anybody worried about the future, this thought-provoking book argues that the solution to dwindling support for our political institutions is more democracy, not less. We must usher ‘shy people’ into governance in order to reclaim American and world politics from politicians, parties, and power brokers.”
— Daron Acemoglu, Nobel laureate and coauthor of Why Nations Fail and Power and Progress

“Politics is too important to be left to politicians. [This is] a powerful argument for citizen rule—and for reimagining democracy beyond elites.”
— Thomas Piketty, author of Capital in the Twenty-First Century

“Drawing on ancient wisdom and modern experiments, Hélène Landemore envisions a system where ordinary citizens, selected by lot, step into power with humility and civic care. She brilliantly champions ‘bringing the shy people out,’ ensuring even the quietest voices shape our shared future. Vital, rigorous, and deeply inspiring.”
— Audrey Tang, Taiwan’s first Minister of Digital Affairs and coauthor of Plurality

“Politics Without Politicians is a thrilling book. A reluctant populist, Hélène Landemore shows how ordinary citizens—in place of professional politicians—can govern with clarity and imagination. Over the course of this book, seemingly radical claims not only appear practical, but far more so than running our head into the same brick wall for another few decades.”
— Zephyr Teachout, legal scholar, democracy reform advocate, and author of Corruption in America