True political representation requires organic cohesion between rulers and ruled

Evidence

If the relationship between intellectuals and people-nation, between the leaders and the led, the rulers and the ruled, is provided by an organic cohesion in which feeling-passion becomes understanding and thence knowledge (not mechanically but in a way that is alive), then and only then is the relationship one of representation. Only then can there take place an exchange of individual elements between the rulers and ruled, leaders [dirigenti ] and led, and can the shared life be realised which alone is a social force— with the creation of the “historical bloc”. — Antonio Gramsci, Selections from the Prison Notebooks, 1498

Categorization

• XREF: Directly connects to the ‘illusion of representation’ debates in African colonial assemblies (Senegal’s deputies) and Somali democracy readings — leaders as representative only through organic ties. — connects to: Democratic economic councils required recallable representatives, rotation, and frequent referenda — Clara E. Mattei, Escape from Capitalism, 190; Commitment ties between rulers and ruled substitute for coercion — Charles Tilly, Regimes and Repertoires, 130; African leadership analysis must distinguish democratic statespersons from personal rulers — Abdi Ismail Samatar, Africa’s First Democrats, 108 (+1 more)
• corroborated: 2 independent passages support this claim — Antonio Gramsci, Selections from the Prison Notebooks, 1498