Do we really need politicians? : e-democracy vs. representative democracy

Abstract

Do we really need politicians? E-democracy vs. representative democracyIn many countries, politicians are seen as untrustworthy and politics as a rigged game. This trust crisis poses serious challenges to the “vertical” dimension of democracy, which has so far been crucial for the functioning of democratic institutions. The questions this panel will aim to address include: What are the remedies to this trust crisis? Should we accept the end of political intermediaries and invest in the “horizontal” dimension of democracy by expanding direct participation and edemocracy? Or should we fix politics by improving the selection and incentives of elected officials?