Radical with Amol Rajan Could All Government Decisions Be Made Through an App? (Your Radical Questions with Hélène Landemore)
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Apr 6, 2026 
Hélène Landemore, Yale political scientist who champions citizen-led democracy, explains why app-only referendums fall short and contrasts Swiss direct democracy with deliberative citizens' assemblies. Short takes cover online voting rituals, how assemblies can strengthen MPs' legitimacy, proposals to split electoral functions, and the idea of a lot-based third chamber.
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Switzerland Shows Direct Democracy Works Sparingly
- Switzerland runs a practical model of frequent citizen votes with about four referenda a year.
- Landemore uses Switzerland as an example to show direct democracy's benefits and limits in practice.
Frequent Referenda Can Overload Citizens
- Direct democracy via frequent referenda risks overwhelming citizens and reducing deliberation quality.
- Hélène Landemore cites Switzerland's ~four referenda a year as workable, but argues multiplying votes (even via an app) would be too demanding.
Apps Don't Replace Deliberation
- Digital tools (apps) can enable voting but do not solve the deeper problem of insufficient deliberation.
- Landemore prefers citizens' assemblies that give people time, expert input, and peer discussion before decisions.
