Nicolò Wojewoda asks whether we can draw lessons about the strengths and limits of unelected government from the recent Italian experience of technocracy, not party political government.
Mario Monti became Italian Prime Minister of a technocratic government to deal with the economic problems facing the country. Nicolò explains why Monti had a higher trust rating than elected politicians, and argues that this technocratic interval was useful to increase people’s understanding of the need to make sacrifices. Overall, he believes that technocracy is not a long-term solution, partly because it has little legitimacy, and can only respond to short-term issues. Technocratic expertise is too narrow to deal with long term decision-making, or implementing plans for far-reaching change.
Nicolò Wojewoda
FDSD, November 2012
