Deliberative Democracy

Abstract

At the center of the idea, deliberative democracy is that the “will of the people” should be based on the consideration of competing arguments about their merits of each policy choice. Despite this, partisanship and electoral campaigns are designed to win elections, not promote citizen deliberation. The focus of most modern research on deliberation by ordinary citizens rather than by representatives or office holders raises interesting questions about who deliberates, what is the policy context, what rationale is used, and what criteria should evaluate deliberative processes. Access to accurate information, relevant arguments, and a representative sample are necessary for good conditions. Some criteria for evaluation include demographic and attitudinal representativeness, sample size, the opportunity to engage in arguments for and against proposals, and the elimination of distortion (e.g., misleading information).

Ciudadanía, políticos y expertos en la toma de decisiones políticas la percepción de las cualidades de los actores políticos importan

“…In contrast, in the participatory model citizens play the main role in decision making. Although different formulas and instruments are proposed under various names (deliberative, direct and participatory), all have in common that citizens' participation and interests are included in political decisions (Barber, 1984;Dryzeck, 2002;Fishkin and Lasset, 2003). While there may be disagreement over the level and form of citizen involvement, there is signifi cant agreement among proponents of this model that citizen participation in decision making is always positive (e.g.…”

The false consensus effect: A trigger of radicalization in locally unwanted land uses conflicts?

“…The second is to build and provide the citizens with an informative framework on the contested project with the purpose of providing cognitive instruments that could contain the negative emotional reactions to the project itself and its possible consequences. Not by accident, these actions, i.e., exposure to diversity and thorough and unbiased information, are built-in a variety of participatory approaches to decision-making processes, especially those inspired to deliberative democracy theory (Elster, 1998;Fishkin & Laslett, 2003).…”

Online discussion and the 2014 Scottish independence referendum: Flaming keyboards or forums for deliberation?

“…Proponents of deliberation (for e.g. : Chambers, 2003;Fishkin and Luskin, 2005;Fishkin and Laslett, 2008) contend that this should result in better decision-making and outcomes. While deliberation appears to be a goal worth reaching, it is arguably not something one would initially associate with referendums, but rather with citizen assemblies or deliberative polling exercises (for e.g.…”

“…Proponents of deliberative democracy would contend that political choices, such as those made in a referendum, should ideally take place in an atmosphere of civility, characterised by extensive discussion, knowledge exchange, due consideration being given to all options, and an openness to changing one's mind on the basis of rational thought (for e.g. : Chambers, 2003;Fishkin and Luskin, 2005;Fishkin and Laslett, 2008). However, it is evident that many referendums fall far short of this ideal standard.…”