In the last two decades, many citizens’ assemblies were launched in consolidated democracies, from Canada to Australia, including many experiences in European countries and at the European Union level. Citizens Assemblies (CA’s) are tasked with learning, deliberating and advising upon a low or policy.  Ideally, CA’s are expected to draw a unique picture of what the whole citizenry would think about a public issue if they had the time to access information, deliberate and decide on the matter. But as more and more CA’s are launched around the world, the debate about their possibilites, challenges and outcomes rise. What drives such initiatives? Is it just an experiment of wealthy countries and consolidated democracies?  Which criteria should they meet to become real instruments of empowered and democratic citizen’s participation?