Does 21st Century Politics Still Need Politicians?

About this episode

The episode discusses whether ordinary citizens should govern in the age of AI rather than traditional politicians.

When Prime Minister Mark Carney took the floor at the recent Liberal convention, he described a future where AI benefits all Canadians – not just a lucky few. It’s an optimistic vision. But according to political theorist Hélène Landemore and democratic innovator Peter MacLeod, our current political system just isn’t capable of delivering on it. Instead, Landemore, a Yale professor and the author of Politics Without Politicians, argues that ordinary citizens – not politicians – should be the ones calling the shots. MacLeod has spent more than twenty years putting that idea into practice in Canada. His new book is Democracy’s Second Act: Why Politics Needs The Public. Our conversation isn’t really about artificial intelligence. But it is about whether our current form of politics is capable of governing it – or whether a radical new technology demands an equally radical form of governance.

People in this episode

Guests: Hélène Landemore, Peter MacLeod

Topics covered

• politics
• artificial intelligence
• democracy
• citizen engagement

Keywords

• Mark Carney
• Liberal convention
• Politics Without Politicians
• Democracy’s Second Act

Mentioned in this episode

Books & works: Politics Without Politicians, Democracy’s Second Act: Why Politics Needs The Public

Places: Canada

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