(This is an archived page, from the Patterns of Power Edition 3 book. Current versions are at book contents).
No matter how politicians have been selected (6.5.1.2), there are shortcomings in representation as a mode of governance:
· No system of voting can ensure that everyone’s preferences are represented in a democracy (6.3.2.4).
· They may be imbued by their own moral values, religious convictions and political ideologies, to such an extent that they are unable to empathise with those whose views they do not share – despite having a duty to represent them.
· Religious convictions are especially problematic in politicians who have responsibilities in the Middle East. A Guardian article, ‘Brought to Jesus’: the evangelical grip on the Trump administration, notes that “Vice President Mike Pence and [Secretary of State] Pompeo both cite evangelical theology as a powerful motivating force”. Evangelicals supported the highly contentious move of the US embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem and they see Iran as a force of evil.
· The political system acts as a buffer between the people and those who are providing public services. As noted earlier in this chapter (6.3.3), the performance of politicians is important; they should be able to act as interpreters and negotiators in the interests of the people – but they might merely prevent clear communication.
As described below, these problems of representation can be mitigated: by involving individual citizens (6.5.2), by consulting them (6.5.3), by distributing political power through appropriate subsidiarity (6.6.2), by giving people the freedom to influence those in power (6.8.3) and by holding politicians to account (6.8.5).