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 PrintableVersion Total recall: how direct democracy can improve BritainRethinking democracy?TOTAL RECALL This is a short and pithy summary, from CIVITAS (The Institute for the Study of Civil Society), an independent social policy think tank, of the arguments in support of the introduction of direct democracy into the United Kingdom. In a nutshell, direct democracy gives citizens greater and more frequent influence in decision making on a national and local level through, for example, referendums and directly elected local mayors and police chiefs. The general thesis of the author is that the UK Parliament has given away too many legislative powers to ministers, government agencies and the European Union (i.e. those who have not been directly elected by the population). It is argued that the legislative supremacy we have been accustomed to is gradually being eroded with more and more power and decision making being given to unelected officials. The solution to this problem, argues Cowen, is to introduce direct democracy as seen in the US and Switzerland. Although this reviewer doesn’t necessarily agree with the proposed solution, the book does encourage the reader to think about how exactly we are governed and how our political structure can bring good to all in society. Although I don’t necessarily recommend this book for the Evangelicals Now readership, it is a reminder that, as thinking Christians, we ought to be wrestling with these concepts and discussing how our country can be run in a better, more just and more biblical way. We should seek to improve Britain spiritually, socially and politically. Paul Brennan, © Evangelicals Now - May 2009 |
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