Aretecracy as Qualified Democracy: Professionalizing Political Power

This concept note introduces aretecracy as a model of qualified democracy aimed at professionalizing the exercise of political power. It outlines why democratic systems benefit from civic–ethical qualification, institutional oversight, and accountability mechanisms, while preserving universal suffrage and open elections. The paper is intended as a concise, accessible framework for scholars and practitioners interested in democratic quality, political ethics, and institutional design.