THE FALLACY OF REPRESENTATION AND THE IMPERATIVE OF DIRECT DEMOCRACY: RECLAIMING CITIZEN SOVEREIGNTY

Abstract

ABSTRACT Modern political discourse routinely equates representative governance with democratic legitimacy. This manuscript argues that such an equation represents a fundamental historical and conceptual misnomer. By examining the structural mechanics of delegation, this study demonstrates the validity of the core axiom: “He who delegates relegates himself.” When citizens surrender their decision-making authority to intermediaries, they do not exercise sovereignty; rather, they abdicate it. Representative systems inherently foster oligarchic concentration, susceptibility to plutocratic co-optation, and the rise of populism driven by wealth or media influence rather than ethical and technical competence. Drawing upon the historical genesis of democratic thought in 500 BC, this paper contends that genuine democracy requires the total elimination of political representation. Direct Participation is presented not merely as an alternative model of governance, but as the sole institutional safeguard capable of guaranteeing true citizen self-governance, preserving societal stability, and restoring authentic democratic sovereignty.