Innovative Citizen Participation and New Democratic Institutions: Catching the Deliberative Wave

Solidarity is complicated, especially in politics. But the trials of the last week also offer opportunities to move beyond zero-sum thinking at a time when faith in our democratic process could use a reboot.

The scandal has become more than just local news.

I recently founded a new international research and action institute DemocracyNext, which is working to shift political and legislative power to everyday people through empowered Citizens’ Assemblies. A lot of the work I do is about building new institutions that are based on the principles of citizen participation, representation by lot, and deliberation (for e.g. the permanent Paris Citizens’ Assembly - short essay about this here).

I was personally involved in designing the Paris Citizens’ Assembly, as well as the Ostbelgien Citizens’ Council, the world’s first permanent deliberative body made up of people drawn by lottery, and the permanent Citizens’ Assembly for Climate in Brussels.

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I recently founded a new international research and action institute DemocracyNext, which is working to shift political and legislative power to everyday people through empowered Citizens’ Assemblies. A lot of the work I do is about building new institutions that are based on the principles of citizen participation, representation by lot, and deliberation (for e.g. the permanent Paris Citizens’ Assembly - short essay about this here).

I was personally involved in designing the Paris Citizens’ Assembly, as well as the Ostbelgien Citizens’ Council, the world’s first permanent deliberative body made up of people drawn by lottery, and the permanent Citizens’ Assembly for Climate in Brussels.

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