Sortition Then and Now

• In Event: The History of Ideas and Conceptual Change

Abstract

This paper critically examines recent work on the history of sortition (the selection of political officials by lot). The focus is upon recent work placing sortition in a comparative historical context—especially the work of Yves Sintomer—as well as recent work using Athens as a model for the expanded use of sortition today—notably work by Maurice Pope and Jeff Miller. Sintomer demonstrates the independent development of sortition practices outside of the Mediterranean world, particularly in China. The emergence of sortition in multiple places raises important questions regarding the practice. Is sortition a “good trick” that emerges again and again because of its ability to solve a particular problem? Or can sortition be used in various different ways, with different uses emerging in different contexts? This paper argues for the latter option, using Sintomer and other recent work on the topic. Sortition can serve numerous distinct purposes, many of which are unrelated to democracy. Once this fact is realized, it becomes possible to revisit sortition’s role in ancient Athens and its relevance to contemporary politics. The comparative analysis of sortition reinforces the critique of the “Democracy Thesis” offered by (among others) Hubertus Buchstein. This critique stresses the difference between the purposes underlying the emergence of sortition in Athens and the purposes supposedly served by the revival of sortition today. Both the comparative historical analysis and the re-examination of the Athenian experience highlight the various distinct cases that can be made for sortition as a practice; this makes it important for contemporary sortition proponents to craft their own case for sortition, the foundation of which may or may not resemble anything previously seen. This “freedom” to create a distinctly modern justification for sortition should be embraced, not feared, by those seeking a revival of democracy today.

Author

• Peter C. Stone, Trinity College, Dublin