Radical with Amol Rajan Rethinking Democracy: Would Citizens Do a Better Job than Politicians? (Hélène Landemore)
Apr 2, 2026
Hélène Landemore, Yale political theorist and author advocating citizen-led governance, argues for lottery-selected citizen assemblies to broaden representation. She discusses why elections favor elites. Short scenes cover how assemblies work in practice, real-world examples like Ireland and France, and practical challenges of scaling, inclusion and legitimacy.
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Elections Skew Power Toward The Affluent
- Electoral systems produce oligarchy because elections over-represent the wealthy and connected.
- Landemore cites empirical political science showing policies align more with the affluent across ~30 democracies, skewing law outcomes.
Juried Democracy As A Practical Alternative
- Open democracy means lottery-based citizen assemblies replacing much legislative power.
- Landemore's model is 'jury duty on steroids': randomly selected citizens meet for months, supported by experts, to draft laws or referenda.
Reserved Army Reservist Became A Key Voice
- Gerard, a retired military reservist in France's Citizens Convention on End of Life, initially said 'I have nothing to say'.
- Once encouraged he delivered a long, thoughtful contribution, illustrating how 'shy' citizens hold valuable views.
