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Rebooting Democracy: A Citizen's Guide to Reinventing Politics

Manuel Arriaga (Goodreads Author)

3.99 · Rating details · 115 ratings · 17 reviews

“If you want things organized, you might have to read some quite tricky books about democracy [such as this one].”
– RUSSELL BRAND, actor and comedian, reading excerpts of Rebooting Democracy on his show The Trews

Unless you are a banker, by now you must have realized that politicians don’t serve your interests. Our democracies are failing us and, from Occupy Wall Street to ...more

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Paperback, 116 pages

Published 2014 by Thistle Publishing

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Jul 31, 2016 Philippe rated it really liked it

Shelves: systems-thinking, management

This featherweight tome offers a lot of bang for the buck. In an opening gambit, the author offers a dry-eyed account of why representational democracy as currently practiced will not, for the most part, take care of the public interest. A mix of hard to avoid psychological and social mechanisms (politicians’ elite group norms, ideological biases, fear of uncertainty, voters’ ‘rational ignorance’, amongst others) and patent design flaws (short electoral cycles, wrong incentives, lack of demograp This featherweight tome offers a lot of bang for the buck. In an opening gambit, the author offers a dry-eyed account of why representational democracy as currently practiced will not, for the most part, take care of the public interest. A mix of hard to avoid psychological and social mechanisms (politicians’ elite group norms, ideological biases, fear of uncertainty, voters’ ‘rational ignorance’, amongst others) and patent design flaws (short electoral cycles, wrong incentives, lack of demographic representativity, lack of supervision, ill-guided political integration) continue to uphold a dysfunctional political system. Much of this is common sense. However, having just read Ianis Varoufakis’ And the Weak Suffer What They Must? - a shocking account of Europe’s monetary crisis - I am reminded how easy it is to lose sight of the tremendous cost of these malpractices.

Arriaga’s proposals for a reboot of democracy are as level-headed as his diagnosis. He sees various forms of ‘citizen deliberation’ as a key route to democratic empowerment in a post-ideological world. This refers to a collection of deliberative formats in which panels with ordinary citizens, supported by policy and scientific experts, develop positions and recommendations on issues of general interest. In one US-based case discussed in the book, citizen panels are used to add a deliberative layer to the process of handling ballot measures:

Before a referendum is held, a panel of 24 randomly chosen citizens now deliberate for a number of days on the measure being proposed. After interviewing advocates on both sides and consulting scientific experts who provide them with in-depth information on the topic, these citizens carefully analyze the question before them and conclude their work by issuing a public statement. Written in everyday language and not more than two or three pages long, this document includes the panel’s key findings about the choice facing the electorate, short group statements by the panelists who support and oppose the ballot measure; and any additional considerations that the panel collectively deem relevant. (…) The full statement is then included in the ‘voter’s pamphlet’ that all registered voters in Oregon receive in the mail before a referendum.

Arriaga points out that if this process is set up in the right way, then randomly selected citizens are perfectly capable of analyzing and deciding on complex policy matters. I can confirm this based on my own professional experience with citizen panels on complicated health care matters. (Unfortunately the deliberative processes I have been involved in were held in purely consultative settings, without real political leverage).

The principles and practices of citizen deliberation can be expanded beyond topical policy issues. Arriaga suggests to create ‘citizen chambers’ to more structurally oversee political decision-making. And, as in our short-winded political systems investing in more distant temporal perspective is hardly rewarded, citizen panels could be tasked with developing an updating a long-term vision for the community (region, country) as a whole.

Finally, the author points out that these deliberative processes need to be backed up with strategic electoral reform (for instance, the implementation of rank voting instead of voting for a single candidate, and a return to a more democratically acceptable way of party and campaign financing).

I believe that these sober and modest proposals could make a genuinely positive difference in the way our democratic institutions work. It’s not a silver bullet and it’s not meant to be. Insights from a variety of disciplines have confirmed time and again that only our ability to learn faster than our environment changes will help us to survive complexity. Our political systems’ core business today is not learning but desperately maintaining the status quo. Something’s got to give. ...more

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Aug 15, 2014 ART rated it really liked it

“[A] long habit of not thinking a thing WRONG, gives it a superficial appearance of being RIGHT.” Thomas Paine, Common Sense

Rebooting Democracy is an exceptional pamphlet that aspires to be the “Common Sense” of citizen deliberation. I do not say “participatory democracy” because that term is often misunderstood as a plea for higher election turnouts or better-informed voters. Rather, the reforms in “Rebooting” envision the participation of amateur citizens (not career politicians) in governance “[A] long habit of not thinking a thing WRONG, gives it a superficial appearance of being RIGHT.” Thomas Paine, Common Sense

Rebooting Democracy is an exceptional pamphlet that aspires to be the “Common Sense” of citizen deliberation. I do not say “participatory democracy” because that term is often misunderstood as a plea for higher election turnouts or better-informed voters. Rather, the reforms in “Rebooting” envision the participation of amateur citizens (not career politicians) in governance and decision making—the important stuff that happens between elections. This includes evaluating referenda/initiatives, authorizing candidates for office, and the drafting, debating, or validation of legislation.

Arriaga echoes a call many have been making over the last two decades, e.g., Atlee, Burnheim, Dowlen, Dryzek, Elstub, Fishkin & Ackerman, Gastil, Landemore, Leib, McCormick and others. But he speaks not to academics or sophisticated activists but to those on the streets of New York, Cairo, Athens, Madrid, London, Lisbon, or nearby. The book explains why representative government does not do what it purports to do—represent the interests, knowledge, values of constituents. He then suggests how participatory government could.

“Our politicians…simply do not represent us.” Manuel Arriaga, Rebooting Democracy

Arriaga’s pamphlet, like Paine’s, addresses would-be revolutionaries and a public feeling abused by politicians. It is also like Common Sense in calling on them to reconsider a preconceived notion—elections are democracy—ingrained by time, tradition or miseducation. This is where it succeeds best and is most original. The chapter “Ten reasons politicians fail to represent” enumerate the ways in which elections themselves are the problem, for example the in-group psychological identification of politicians with donors and lobbyists, no matter how right-minded and idealistic they may have come to office. That chapter by itself makes it a valuable book.

Rebooting Democracy argues that elections themselves have undemocratic effects! Whether it succeeds at making that idea more accessible, or galvanizing would-be revolutionaries, only time will tell. But Arriaga’s call to “reboot,” makes an original contribution to the “neo-Athenian” renewed interest in participatory democracy on the streets and in some political science circles. The movement evinces a “Second French Revolution” not based on enumerated human rights (such as freedom of expression) but on something truly progressive: the right to participate in the process of governing.

To that end, Arriaga suggests five ideas reflecting recent reforms and experiments in Ireland, British Columbia, Australia, Oregon. One idea would mimic and expand Oregon’s Citizen Initiative Review jury process into a “citizens’ chamber” that can review and block (with a sufficient majority) any bill being contemplated by elected legislatures. Here the book is less specific, because it does not aim to give a blueprint for government but rather suggests types of reforms that could improve it.

Other measures suggested are not at all revolutionary. For example, Arriaga advocates “rank voting” or IRV to make elections more closely match citizens’ actual preferences. Another is to tighten campaign finance laws. For some, he does not go far enough to correct the ills of elections; for others, he goes just far enough for the time being. But what he undeniably does is put elections under the microscope and open the conversation about citizen-led politics.

If Tom Paine said, “How ridiculous, that a tiny island should govern an entire continent,” then Manuel Arriaga is saying, “How ridiculous, that the vast majority should delegate their power to a small clique every four years then sit idly by another four!”
...more

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Aug 03, 2018 Diana rated it it was amazing

A sensible little book from Manuel Arriaga which offers ten reasons why politicians are usually the wrong people for the job, and five ways to create – or at least move towards – genuine democracy.

Democracy means government by the people for the people. It’s what we’re supposed to have in the UK, but in practice it doesn’t work like that. No matter who you vote for, once they get into power they all tend to act in the interests of big business, and disregard the needs and rights of the ordinary ...more

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Jun 02, 2016 Sofia rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Don't necessarily agree with everything but food for thought and some examples there that I'm interested in reading and researching more about. Should be mandatory reading given current political situation in the EU, and also Brexit.

Whether it's a silver bullet though... perhaps not. Sadly us humans sometimes seem incapable to save us from ourselves.. ...more

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Dec 10, 2020 Roger rated it really liked it

"Rebooting democracy" isn't a book with a sure fire solution, it is a compelling summary of some of the biggest failures in our current system as well as showing that there is a way to do politics "better".

It is one of those books that everyone should have to read before being able to vote, not only because it points some solutions, but most of all because it instills in the reader the will to search for better organizational systems/behaviors as well as demystifies a lot of the lies ingrained i ...more

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Jan 21, 2015 James Elder rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: politics-economics-and-society

Excellent. Highly recommend that everyone reads this one: it's very short (little more than a pamphlet really) but has some specific, powerful ideas about how we could improve the functioning of our democracy.

The biggest/most radical idea is for the use of 'deliberative citizens panels'. Essentially, a group of people is selected at random (like jury service) and tasked with scrutinising policy proposals. They're paid for their time, and they're given access to all the expert opinion and support ...more

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Jul 04, 2016 Joff Sharpe added it

According to Winston Churchill; “Democracy is the worst form of government….except all the others”- and the first part of this book pretty much explains why. But the phenomenon that is Donald Trump has made a lot of people think that the world’s greatest liberal democratic system is well past its sell-by date and ironically, its economic nemesis is a barely reformed China. So now is a very good time to think about “re-booting” and what that might look like.

But is it a good read? One of the early ...more

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Sep 16, 2015 Lee rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Perfectly reflects and crystalises my current frustrations

For me, reading this book was quite a revelation. It both explained and helped to crystalise my current frustrations with the way our countries are run.
The book puts forward a basic outline for a system that to me seems remarkably sensible and fair. What it does not do is suggest how we might pull together to bring about such change.

Do I want to try out the suggestions? Yes!
Do I think I will ever see this kind of reform in my lifetime? ...more

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Aug 22, 2015 Lee rated it it was amazing

For me, reading this book was quite a revelation. It both explained and helped to crystalise my current frustrations with the way our countries are run.
The book puts forward a basic outline for a system that to me seems remarkably sensible and fair. What it does not do is suggest how we might pull together to bring about such change.

Do I want to try out the suggestions? Yes!
Do I think I will ever see this kind of reform in my lifetime? No, unfortunately I see too much apathy around me, and I f ...more

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Jun 16, 2016 Anthony Stancomb rated it really liked it

An interesting book for anyone concerned with the workings of democracy today. The author propounds the theory that the people are a better judge of what we need than the politicians they elect.
The author has clearly done a good bit of research into the machinations and processes of government – particularly into the odd processes that have grown up in the late 20th century – and he makes several suggestions as to how these processes can be reversed. Intersting, but I wasn’t entirely convinced b ...more

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May 21, 2016 Clive Lillie rated it liked it

A quick read outlining theories of why politicians evolve into a self serving class of their own, thereby creating and sustaining a faulty, corrupt system.
This is the followed by alternative systems that assure democracy in its purest sense.
Not rocket science, easy to read, yet could haven been referenced with a little more substance.
Good succinct points, easily read in no time

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Jun 29, 2016 Beth Willis rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

This is a thought-provoking analysis of some of the failings of our current system of democracy, with practical suggestions for how it might be improved. Thoroughly researched, and very persuasive.

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