Democracy

The Athenian Option

Alan Moore recommended an ancient alternative to democracy. How does it work?

By Lapham’s Quarterly

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 2016

 
 

In a September 12, 2016, interview with Vulture, the writer Alan Moore was asked if democracy is “too broken to fix.” He replied, “Personally, I’d prefer something closer to the original Athenian option,” which he then went on to explain: a jury chosen by lottery from the population at large decides matters of state.

But how is the jury selected? Lapham’s Quarterly has a helpful walkthrough drawn fromAristotle’s Athenian Constitution below. (You’ll need some boxes, columns, and trained staff.)