The Mechanics of Changing the World: Political Architecture to Roll Back State & Corporate Power
About this book
"In my household I have nominated this book as my Book of the Year. I read over 30 books a year in the course of my work, so it is in a good field.” - Professor Guy Standing, author of The PrecariatTiananmen, the Arab Spring, Occupy. Great ideals—yet none built anything lasting. Changing the world needs more than inspired it needs architecture."A formidable effort, very learned and extremely wide-ranging. It has certain family resemblances to The Dawn of Everything by David Graeber and David Wengrow, Yuval Noah Harari's three volumes, and books by Steven Pinker and Jared Diamond." - Barry Jones, global best-selling author, former Minister for Science & president of the Australian Labor Party "I've never read anything like it. It explains so much (just about everything, really) about the present sorry state of human affairs. And it has put politics into a manageable perspective for me. I sense, at last, that there is a way out of the straightjacket we have traded our freedom for.“i am astonished that his conclusions haven't been brought together before this. i am also astonished that the idea of re-designing democracy has never been raised." - Ross Roache "The book offers great and timely value and I want to see it in as many thoughtful hands as possible. This is such a critical topic and fine piece of work. Unlike the typical online manifesto, full of bold yet incoherent mandates, it clearly defines, contextually situates, supports, and suggests how to operationalize its ideas… - Major Mark Harris, PhD, knowledge analyst, US Air Force (retired) "Fascinating and inspiring. I agree with the energising and unifying potential of the idea of a new constitution, addressing the problems he so clearly describes. My hope is that someone with the talents of a demagogue or an advertising guru will catch on and help the idea spread." - Dr David Erdal, evolutionary psychologist & author Macgregor’s writing is clear, direct, and philosophical yet deeply grounded in practicality. His insights draw from a broad understanding of political history and theory, but his message remains accessible for readers who might be new to concepts like “political architecture” or “decontaminating politics.” This makes The Mechanics of Changing the World not only a thought-provoking read but also a motivating one for those interested in lasting, actionable change.Ultimately, The Mechanics of Changing the World is an inspiring manifesto for those disillusioned with traditional politics but not yet ready to give up on the democratic ideal. - Vegetarian on GoodreadsThe Mechanics of Changing the World argues that war, inequality & environmental breakdown are insoluble within our current system of government. That they will only be curable at the level of the level of democratic design.One-off campaigns are so ‘third draft democracy’ is a suite of interlocking reforms to decontaminate politics, decentralize information & democratize decision-making. It’s a natural evolution of the first (Greek) & second (Euro-American) ‘drafts’ of the democratic experiment.We know much more about human nature than we did in 1789. We’ve learned we’re an egalitarian species, and are good at collective decision-making. We hate rigged rules and biased information. We’re naturals at social harmony. It’s way past time this knowledge was reflected in our national constitutions. Time turns a constitution into a Pandora’s box—releasing ‘plagues’ such as bought politics and captured information. We’re forever going after the our real attention should be on the box. - John Macgregor