Lectures on Tap - "The Possibility of Democracy: A Mathematical Argument"

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🧠 Lecture: "The Possibility of Democracy: A Mathematical Argument"

🎤 Speaker: Ismar Volić

If you feel like your role in democracy begins and ends with casting a ballot, you’re not alone. In this timely and thought-provoking talk, Professor Ismar Volić argues that mathematics can show us a better way. Building on the 18th-century Condorcet Jury Theorem and modern social choice theory, he will explore how democracies function best when citizens participate directly in collective decision-making and deliberation.

You’ll learn how democratic innovations such as citizens’ assemblies and participatory budgeting can strengthen representation, improve policy outcomes, and rebuild public trust in politics. Professor Volić will also discuss how emerging digital tools—including artificial intelligence and algorithmic design—might help scale these forms of participation for the 21st century.

Ismar Volić is a Professor of Mathematics and Director of the Institute for Mathematics and Democracy at Wellesley College. Author of numerous articles and books, including the prize-winning Making Democracy Count, he has delivered hundreds of lectures worldwide and has written for outlets such as The Hill, TIME, and LitHub.

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