This controversial and hard-hitting book questions the role of the political
party in the post-ideological age and concludes that it would be better
for government ministers to be appointed by headhunters and held to account
by a ‘people’s parliament’ selected by lot. Unlike it’s 2004 predecessor
The
Party’s Over: Blueprint for a Very English Revolution Sutherland’s
new book acknowledges an ongoing role for the political party to achieve
the ‘representation of interests’ (Pitkin, 1967). However, in order to
avoid factionalism -- that ‘grand cankerworm of a Commonwealth’-- parties
should be only one element in a mixed constitution, that combines expert
advocacy with informed popular decision making.
'As a follow-up to his stimulating The Party’s Over (2004) Keith Sutherland
now gives us a revised blueprint – more of a pink print, actually – for
a very English revolution. About time too – 350 years has been too long
to wait! The party system, the crown, the judiciary, even parliament –
all are revisited, revised and – echoing Richard Crossman of hallowed memory
(for some) – reshaped. Echoing Sutherland, I say – Amen to that.” Paul
Cartledge, Professor of Greek History, University of Cambridge
'Sutherland’s model of citizen’s juries ought to have much greater appeal
to progressive Britain.' Tim Luckhurst, Observer
'An extremely valuable contribution.' Graham Allen MP, Tribune
'A political essay in the best tradition – shrewd, erudite, polemical,
partisan, mischievous and highly topical.' Contemporary Political Theory
A Citizen Legislature by Ernest Callenbach
& Michael Phillips
The American founders proposed that their legislature should be ‘an exact
portrait, in miniature, of the people at large’. Whether or not this was
true at the time, the exponential growth of the population, skyrocketing
campaign funding, the power of pressure groups, the grease of the pork-barrel
and the dominance of charisma and demagoguery means that the US Constitution
could now better be described as a kleptocracy. This pioneering essay proposes
selecting Congressional members by random lot (leaving the Senate and Presidency
unchanged) to ‘restore a direct, powerful voice in Washington to the whole
of America’.
Originally published in 1985, this new edition includes an introduction
by political scientist Peter Stone
.