Joelle Gamble argues that the momentum behind Senator Sanders’ candidacy highlights a need for more bottom up forms for citizens to influence the political process.
This “new power” politics is a rejection of the top-down, king-making mentality that has become symbolic of current American politics. In a recent Harvard Business Review article, Jeremy Hiemans and Henry Timms define “old power” as “a currency possessed by the few.” However, they argue that new power, a force on the rise, is open and participatory. It is represented by institutions that crowdsource wisdom, allow for wide participation and sharing, and capitalize on the agency of a population. It’s the kind of political power driven by grassroots energy and bottom-up fundraising.
