antipolitics

Antipolitics is a term used in political theory and sociology to describe a stance, disposition, or set of practices that rejects or de-emphasizes formal political activity as the primary means of addressing social problems. It encompasses skepticism toward traditional representative institutions—parliamentary democracy, parties, and elections—as well as toward policy-making processes perceived as gridlocked, corrupt, or illegitimate. Proponents may seek to depoliticize issues by shifting them to non-political arenas such as technocratic expertise, market mechanisms, or voluntary civil society initiatives. Others treat antipolitics as a cultural habit that privileges individual autonomy, local networks, or non-governmental action over party politics.

Contexts and usage: The term is used across disciplines to characterize tendencies toward depoliticization—efforts to reframe social questions as technical or economic rather than political. In some debates about post-political or technocratic governance, antipolitics denotes a perceived narrowing of legitimate political discourse, where consensus appears more important than contestation. It can appear in analysis of social movements that operate outside traditional party channels or in critiques of media-spun politics.

Characteristics: central claims include that political processes fail to solve problems effectively, that power is concentrated in elites, and that non-political pathways offer more transparent or efficient solutions. It often involves advocacy for streamlined decision-making, privatization, or the empowerment of experts, regulators, and markets.

Critique: Critics argue that antipolitics can erode democratic accountability by removing public deliberation from decision-making and legitimizing informal or hidden power. They caution that depoliticization might obscure inequality, power dynamics, and contested outcomes, and can be exploited to justify policies without popular consent.

Related concepts include depoliticization and technocracy.