Political scientist Hélène Landemore argues that modern democracies have inherited undemocratic traits from monarchies, leading to elitist political systems disconnected from the public. She advocates for incorporating citizens assemblies, randomly selected groups representing diverse populations, to enhance democratic legitimacy and address crises of trust and representation in politics.
Hélène Landemore, a professor of political science at Yale University and author of Politics Without Politicians, offers a critical perspective on the state of contemporary democracies. She argues that our current political systems have inherited undemocratic features from monarchies, resulting in elitist hierarchies and a disconnect between elected officials and the public. Landemore advocates for a rethinking of democracy, emphasizing the potential of citizens assemblies as a more representative and democratic alternative.
Landemore highlights how democracies today often resemble monarchies in their operation. Political leaders frequently ascend through party hierarchies and expect positions of power as a birthright, leading to what she describes as "coronations" rather than genuine democratic selection. This phenomenon is evident in various countries, including the UK and the US, where leadership changes sometimes occur without direct public consultation or elections.
She points out that electoral democracy, as currently practiced, tends to favor elites and the wealthy, resulting in oligarchic governance. Gerrymandering and non-competitive elections further entrench this problem, making it difficult for ordinary citizens to influence political outcomes. This system often leads to policies that do not reflect the desires or needs of the broader population.
Landemore draws on ancient Greek democracy, where political office was often assigned by lottery rather than election. This method, known as sortition, involved randomly selecting citizens to serve on juries or councils, ensuring a diverse and representative sample of the population.
Unlike elections, which tend to concentrate power among the wealthy and well-connected, lotteries bring a broad spectrum of socioeconomic, geographic, gender, and age groups into decision-making roles. This diversity increases the likelihood that policies will address the real problems faced by ordinary people.
The current political class often fails to represent the interests of the general population. Landemore cites examples such as the Yellow Vest movement in France, which arose as a reaction to policies like the carbon tax that disproportionately affected working-class citizens who rely on cars and lack access to public transportation.
Such movements highlight the mismatch between political decisions made by urban, educated elites and the lived realities of many citizens. This disconnect fuels frustration, alienation, and sometimes violent protests.
Landemore discusses several examples of citizens assemblies that have been implemented around the world:
France's Citizens' Convention on Climate: A randomly selected group of 150 citizens was tasked with proposing ways to reduce greenhouse gas emissions without causing social unrest. Their 149 proposals notably excluded a carbon tax, reflecting alternative approaches more acceptable to the public.
Ireland's Citizens Assembly on Abortion and Marriage Equality: These assemblies included randomly selected citizens who deliberated on sensitive moral and political issues. Their recommendations closely matched subsequent public referendum results, demonstrating the assemblies' representativeness.
These assemblies allow ordinary people, often excluded from traditional politics, to engage deeply with complex issues by listening to experts and deliberating collectively.
A common critique of citizens assemblies is the potential lack of expertise among randomly selected members. Landemore counters this by explaining that participants are not expected to be experts initially but are educated through expert testimony and rigorous deliberation.
Regarding lobbying and corruption, while lobbyists might attempt to influence citizens assemblies, Landemore suggests that these assemblies could be more resilient to such pressures than traditional elected bodies. Transparency and procedural safeguards can help mitigate undue influence.
Landemore is currently involved in a pioneering project in Connecticut, USA, where a large-scale citizens assembly is addressing the contentious issue of property taxes. This assembly uses stratified random sampling to ensure representation across geography, homeownership status, and other demographics.
Participants will deliberate over several months and make recommendations to the state legislature. Importantly, the assembly members will have significant control over the process, including decisions about which experts to consult and the nature of their output.
While the binding power of such assemblies remains uncertain, Landemore sees them as a crucial step toward a more democratic and representative political system.
Transitioning from traditional electoral democracy to a system incorporating citizens assemblies will require crises, social movements, and political will. Landemore acknowledges that citizens assemblies are unlikely to replace elected parliaments entirely but can coexist and complement them.
The key is to develop a harmonious division of labor between elected officials and randomly selected citizens, ensuring that the latter have meaningful influence over legislation.
Hélène Landemore's analysis reveals deep flaws in contemporary democratic systems, particularly their elitism and disconnect from the public. By revisiting ancient democratic practices like sortition and implementing citizens assemblies, democracies can become more inclusive, representative, and responsive.
As political dissatisfaction and populism rise globally, experimenting with these new democratic models offers a promising path to restoring trust and effectiveness in governance.
This comprehensive exploration of Landemore's ideas underscores the urgent need to rethink how we select political representatives and engage citizens in decision-making processes. Embracing citizens assemblies could revitalize democracy and better align political outcomes with the will and needs of the people.
