The Technocratic Challenge to Democracy

This book explores the challenges posed by technocracy to representative democracy and undermines democratic legitimacy. It offers a comprehensive analysis of technocratic politics at national and supra-national institutions and actors, addressing elitism, meritocracy, de-politicization, efficiency, neutrality, reliance on science, and distrust toward party politics and ideologies. It assesses the effects of the technocratic critique against representative institutions in the current crisis of democracy and analyzes demands for competent and responsible policy-making in combination with populist resistance to experts.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 340 pages
Publication date: 13 December 2021
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

This comprehensive book delves into the intricate relationship between technocracy and representative democracy, exploring the profound challenges posed by the former to the latter's democratic legitimacy. It offers a robust theoretical framework and empirical analysis of technocratic politics, examining its impact at various levels of national and supra-national institutions and actors, including cabinets, parties, the EU, independent bodies, central banks, and direct democratic campaigns. Through a comparative and policy-oriented lens, the book conducts an in-depth examination of the key themes of technocracy, such as elitism, meritocracy, de-politicization, efficiency, neutrality, reliance on science, and distrust towards party politics and ideologies. It sheds light on the ways in which these characteristics undermine democratic responsiveness, accountability, citizen input, and pluralist competition.

In the context of the current crisis of democracy, the book assesses the consequences of the technocratic critique against representative institutions, which are perceived to be inadequate in addressing complex and global problems. It analyzes the growing demands for competent and responsible policy-making, juxtaposed with the simultaneous populist resistance to experts. The book serves as a valuable resource for scholars and students of comparative politics, political theory, policy analysis, multi-level governance, as well as practitioners engaged in bureaucracies, media, think-tanks, and policy-making. By shedding light on the complex dynamics between technocracy and democracy, it contributes to our understanding of the evolving political landscape and offers insights into the potential pathways for democratic renewal and resilience.

Weight: 510g
Dimension: 156 x 233 x 26 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781032237831