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
Characteristics: central claims include that political processes fail to solve problems effectively, that power is concentrated
Critique: Critics argue that antipolitics can erode democratic accountability by removing public deliberation from decision-making and