"Lottocracy: Can You Have Democracy Without Elections", TODAY at 3:30pm

[Daniel Lake]

*The Institute for Ethics in Public Life invites you to join us for
"Lottocracy: Can You Have Democracy Without Elections?" On Wednesday, March
4 in-person at 3:30pm in-person or on Zoom with special guest Dr. John
McMahon, Associate Professor of Political Science and current Institute
Fellow.*

>From polarization to the media environment to the weakening rule of law to
attacks on individual rights to economic inequality, our democratic
institutions appear to be eroding or may be insufficient to our
contemporary challenges. In response to this condition, the idea of
"lottocracy" -- replacing elected representatives with representatives
randomly selected by lottery -- has recently gained traction among some
democratic theorists and political philosophers. After a brief overview of
the main features of lottocracy, this conversation will explore its
implication for the meaning and practice of democracy.

While no preparation is required or expected, if you'd like to learn more
about lottocracy before March 4, the work of philosopher Alex Guerrero is a
good place to start. Here is a link to a ten-page excerpt
<https://www.google.com/url?q=https://drive.google.com/file/d/19He0DqG3odVXloxpSt-dIzSYZ9yNCv-s/view?usp%3Dsharing&sa=D&source=calendar&ust=1772638593802791&usg=AOvVaw0ELTfvRxlJX-vfnseVwe6i>
from his 2024 book
<https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.lottocracy.org/&sa=D&source=calendar&ust=1772638593802791&usg=AOvVaw1flC30mu0CH9tLexG3YHJU>
on lottocracy, here is an interview with him
<https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v%3DpTPSjQzvPAA&sa=D&source=calendar&ust=1772638593802791&usg=AOvVaw2ATXia17T8-RooUeuDO_1O>,
and here is a review, summary, and critique
<https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.bostonreview.net/articles/could-ditching-elections-save-democracy/&sa=D&source=calendar&ust=1772638593802791&usg=AOvVaw0uOXFkUZSJoGd09TWkYnlM>
of the book.

Topic: Lottocracy
Time: Mar 4, 2026 03:30 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)
Join Zoom Meeting
https://plattsburgh.zoom.us/j/86044839371
<https://www.google.com/url?q=https://plattsburgh.zoom.us/j/86044839371&sa=D&source=calendar&ust=1772638593802791&usg=AOvVaw2MtvJgR-iFfxVR6U2Bnk60>

Meeting ID: 860 4483 9371



-- 

*Daniel Lake*

(pronouns: he/him/his)

Professor of Political Science

Director, Institute for Ethics in Public Life

Hawkins 149A

101 Broad Street
<https://maps.google.com/?q=101+Broad+Street+Plattsburgh,+NY+12901&entry=gmail&source=g>

Plattsburgh, NY 12901
<https://maps.google.com/?q=101+Broad+Street+Plattsburgh,+NY+12901&entry=gmail&source=g>

(o) 518-564-5833 <(518)%5645833>

*plattsburgh.edu <http://plattsburgh.edu/>*
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