While mini-publics have been capitalized on by governments around the world, their potential has been overlooked by member-based organizations.
(Shutterstock)
Mini-publics, a type of participatory process, can help revitalize democracy in democratic member-based organizations.
A woman celebrates after the final result was announced in the Irish referendum to liberalize abortion laws in May 2018. The referendum followed an Irish citizens’ assembly on the issue.
(AP Photo/Peter Morrison)
Seána Glennon, L’Université d’Ottawa/University of Ottawa
As Canada’s nearest neighbour grapples with serious attacks on democracy, a fresh approach to citizen engagement in Canada is an exciting prospect, worthy of serious consideration.
Deliberative democracy should have a place in emergency decision-making. Here’s how it works.
Low voter turnout in recent Canadian elections sharply illustrates how the public is disconnected from political institutions and their representatives. How can they be re-engaged?
THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chris Young
Problems with party politics abound, largely driven by the fusion of executive and legislative powers that enforces party discipline. Here’s how to get the public more involved.
Overhauling approaches to student participation in university governance is one way universities can help revitalize the democracy we want.
(Pexels/Yan Krukov)
Universities should look to democratic innovations seen in society like ‘mini publics’ where citizens deliberate about critical issues in representative forums.
Young people prioritize issues in preparation for a political debate in Lalitpur, Nepal.
Tom O'Neill
At a time when democratic norms appear to be in decline around the world, deliberative democracy is one potential remedy worth pursuing.
Autocomplete is a search engine function that tries to predict the terms being entered into the search bar, and offers suggestions for related searches.
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Populism can be benign and simply mean giving ordinary citizens more of a voice. But the nasty side that can lead to far-right groups gaining momentum could still be reined in. Here’s how.
Can we avert a populist apocalypse through good old-fashioned deliberation?
Richard Hopkins/flickr
Populist politics would appear to have left deliberative democracy by the wayside, but innovations that engage citizens in reasoned decision-making have much to offer.
It’s time for citizen panels to have a say in how governments spend our health dollars.
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Citizens do not have enough say in how mental health services are planned, funded and run in Australia. Here’s why that needs to change.
A polarising election issue in Western Australia, the Roe 8 project illustrates the need for better and more democratic decision-making.
Gregory Roberts/AAP
One reason Perth’s Roe 8 project is the subject of passionate protests is that it’s a case of a government asserting power over people rather than exercising power with local communities.
In a citizens’ jury, difficult issues are passionately but respectfully discussed by a cross-section of people from the community.
NHS Citizen Assembly
A citizens’ jury has been working to refresh the Future Melbourne strategy. It’s part of a broader shift from government decision-making for communities to decision-making with communities.
The ‘Lose Yourself in Melbourne’ ad was onto something: instead of being directed to the fastest or shortest route, some people might want to take a diverting detour.
'It's Easy to Lose Yourself in Melbourne', Tourism Victoria
If smart cities run on big data and algorithms that channel only ‘relevant’ information and opinions to us, how do we maintain the diversity of ideas and possibilities that drives truly smart cities?
Waiting in the wings as parliament sits in its final session after the election, Aung San Suu Kyi and her victorious NLD face the challenge of huge public expectations.
EPA/Nyein Chan Naing
Aung San Suu Kyi’s NLD has won Myanmar’s elections in a landslide, but must lead the transition to democratic rule carrying the hopes of tens of millions of voters who expect life to be transformed.