Transitions seminar | Citizens' Assemblies Drawn by Lot

The recent proliferation of citizens' assemblies drawn by lot has been accompanied by a growing number of questions about their democratic function and their relationship with the institutions of the representative system. In political theory, while some argue that these assemblies should be able to make decisions, others stress the importance of their remaining consultative. This normative ambiguity is reflected in practice through radically different visions and expectations of these mechanisms. In her book Open Democracy, Hélène Landemore constructs one of the most accomplished institutional models in favour of the decision-making option.

The purpose of this article is to take a critical look at the main elements of her argument. It highlights the irreconcilable shortcomings of a model that would do without elections and argues, on the contrary, that these mechanisms should be seen more as a complement than a replacement for existing institutions. More broadly, he questions the existence of an ideal institutional model that would guarantee a fully deliberative democracy, stressing the importance of the deliberative ethos over and above institutional arrangements.