Votare non è più democratico? Le elezioni e la “sindrome da stanchezza democratica”

(Is Voting No Longer Democratic? Elections and the "Democratic Fatigue Syndrome")

Abstract

This essay critically addresses the arguments developed by Belgian intellectual David Van Reybrouck in his book Against Elections and specifically the presupposition underlying his entire discourse, namely, that “voting is no longer democratic.” The essay will consider Van Reybrouck’s proposed interpretation of the various causes of the democratic “crisis” and will highlight some problematic elements that have to do with the “insufficiency” of the electoral process in terms of guaranteeing the democratic character of Western political systems. The goal of the essay is to cast light on the fact that the “crisis” of Western democracies does not stem solely from the weak legitimation offered by the elective-representative system.