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The Case Against Democracy
Article

The Case Against Democracy

If most voters are uninformed, who should make decisions about the public’s welfare?

Caleb Crain
The New Yorker, 2016
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Editorial Rating

7

Qualities

  • Controversial
  • Analytical

Recommendation

If Americans don’t know what’s in their Constitution, how can they pick leaders who will uphold its principles? Since the days of Plato in ancient Greece, intellectuals have fretted about ignorant voters and argued for a system run by educated people instead. Political scientist Jason Brennan is one such intellectual. Literary critic and journalist Caleb Crain dissects Brennan’s new book Against Democracy, offering historical insights and a fresh voice. While always politically neutral, getAbstract recommends Crain’s sharp analysis, which doesn’t lose faith in democracy.

Take-Aways

  • Roughly one-third of Americans can’t name one of the US government’s three branches.
  • Scholar David Estlund coined the term “epistocracy” to describe a political system that educated voters control.
  • In Against Democracy, Jason Brennan divides citizens into three groups: 1) “hobbits” who ignore politics and shouldn’t vote, 2) “hooligans” who follow politics for fun and 3) “vulcans” who make reasoned, fact-based decisions.

About the Author

Caleb Crain is a literary critic, journalist and author of the award-winning novel Necessary Errors.

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