Democracy Quote by Philip Hamburger
““The people could still have their republic, but much legislative power would be shifted out of an elected body and into the hands of the right sort of people. Rather than narrowly a matter of racism, this has been a transfer of legislative power to the knowledge class – meaning not a class defined in Marxist or other economic terms but those persons whose identity or sense of selfworth centers on their knowledge. More than merely the intelligentsia, this class includes all who are more attached to the authority of knowledge than to the authority of local political communities. Which is not to say that they have been particularly knowledgeable, but that their sense of affinity with cosmopolitan knowledge, rather than local connectedness, has been the foundation of their influence and identity.””
About This Quote
Source Article: “The Knowledge Class and Legislative Power,” 2021
Legislative power is shifting from elected bodies to a knowledge‑based elite whose identity is tied to cosmopolitan expertise rather than local community ties.
In simple terms: Power moves to knowledge‑based elite.
Key Takeaway
Beware of power held by those valuing knowledge over community.
Themes
politics
power
knowledge
elitism
identity
Mood
critical
reflective
Type
political
analytical
When to use this quote
- policy making
- academic influence
- media commentary
Key Concepts
knowledge class
legislative shift
cosmopolitanism
Questions to Reflect On
- How can democratic accountability be maintained?
- What safeguards protect local communities?
A Different Perspective
Knowledge does not guarantee wisdom or fairness.
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