How each model solves the same problems
Instead of “democracy versus anarchism”, compare the concrete ways collective problems get solved.
| Question | ✕ | ✕ | ✕ | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| How are decisions made? | Assembly of male citizens voted on laws and policy; a Council of 500 chosen by lot prepared its agenda; most offices were filled by lot, generals by election.Popular assemblySortition / citizens' assembly | Unknown | State legislature and governor set the dividend through the budget process. | |
| How are conflicts resolved? | Large citizen juries selected by lot judged cases; ostracism could send a prominent citizen away for ten years without trial. | Unknown | Unknown | |
| How are public goods funded? | Pay for Assembly, Council and jury service came from public funds; wealthy citizens also financed festivals and warships through liturgies. | Unknown | Returns of a publicly owned investment fund.Sovereign wealth fund dividend | |
| How is AI used? | No documented AI role. | Unknown | No documented AI role. | |
| What are the main risks? | Narrow citizen body; swings of opinion and demagoguery in the Assembly; dependence on empire and war; conquest by Macedon. | Unknown | Political pressure to use fund earnings for the state budget instead of dividends. |
This illustrates differences in design; it is not a universal claim about outcomes. Each cell links to mechanisms and the claims behind them.