This page collects the articles and books we recommend on citizens' assemblies and deliberative democracy. Prefer to watch instead? See our video page of documentaries and short explainers on the same topic.
Our strongest recommendation
Democracy Without Politicians
Terry Bouricius makes the full case for replacing elections with lottery-selected government — the most complete single argument for why this works.
See it below ↓Articles
The New Yorker · Nathan Heller
Politics Without Politicians
The profile of Hélène Landemore that gave her book its name — a clear, accessible introduction to "open democracy" and civic lotteries.
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The New Yorker
What Could Citizens' Assemblies Do for American Politics?
Covers Oregon's assemblies — the upside of real deliberation, and the downside when a process is "just a recommendation."
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Public Agenda, 2021
Hidden Common Ground: Overcoming Divisiveness
Research showing Americans find far more common ground than our politics suggest — when given a real chance to talk.
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Public Agenda, 2021
Hidden Common Ground: Renewing Democracy
Companion piece on how deliberative approaches can actually get us out of the current mess.
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Books
Book · Terry Bouricius
Democracy Without Politicians: Government By the People
The case against elections and for sortition, from a former elected official who's been making this argument for decades.
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Book · Hélène Landemore
Politics Without Politicians: The Case for Citizen Rule
A Yale political theorist's case for "open democracy" — civic lotteries that select everyday people to govern instead of career politicians.
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Book · Alexander Guerrero
Lottocracy: A New Kind of Democracy
A philosopher's rigorous case for lottery-selected, single-issue legislative bodies in place of elected representatives.
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Book · David Van Reybrouck
Against Elections: The Case for Democracy
The historian who helped popularize modern sortition argues that it's elections — not lotteries — that are the outdated idea.
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