New Books in Critical Theory On Democracy and Bullshit with Hélène Landemore
Nov 18, 2025
In this engaging discussion, Hélène Landemore, a Yale political science professor and author of "Open Democracy," explores the complex relationship between democracy and the pervasive nature of bullshit. She critiques current democratic systems and highlights how they often benefit elites over ordinary citizens. Landemore proposes innovative solutions like sortition and citizen assemblies, drawing inspiration from Iceland's constitutional experiment. She also discusses the challenges posed by globalization and AI, all while advocating for greater democratic openness and citizen empowerment.
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Democracy vs. Republic Distinction
- Modern 'democracy' often isn't true democracy because founders designed republics, not demos kratos.
- Reimagining institutional principles produces very different democratic designs than today’s representative systems.
Iceland's Open Constitutional Experiment
- Iceland randomly sampled 950 citizens and formed a 25-person constitutional council to rewrite the constitution openly online.
- The draft went to referendum and passed with two-thirds support, showing popular drafting can work.
Elections Produce Plutocratic Biases
- Elections systematically favor wealthier, more connected, and better-educated candidates, producing a plutocratic bias in policy.
- This selection method explains consistent policy congruence with rich preferences across many democracies.
