Representation is the contested relationship at the heart of our democracy. It is contested because the theory and practice of democratic representation have never been in close alignment. In theory, representatives should be either the trustees or the delegates of the citizens who elect them. In practice citizens do not usually share collective interests.
Tag: power
Arendt’s Example
When Hannah Arendt received a prize in Denmark at the end of her life, she said she accepted it with “the fundamental gratitude which leaves us helpless whenever the world offers us a true gift.” She thought of honor as form of luck, rather than anything with a connection to justice or desert. So I thank you for my good luck, and for your generosity, kindness and faith in my work.