Research Seminar

POSTPONED. NEW DATE PENDING. James Fishkin: Democracy When the People Are Thinking: Applications of Deliberative Democracy

Date: 22 April 2020
Time: 10:00-12:00

Postponed. New date pending.

James Fishkin, Professor of Communication, Professor of Political Science (by courtesy) and Director of the Center for Deliberative Democracy, Stanford University.

Abstract

Democracy requires a connection to the “will of the people.” How is that possible in a world of “fake news,” relentless advocacy, partisan polarization and efforts at public manipulation? “Deliberative Polling” is a research program that applies citizen deliberation in depth with credible random samples to policy contexts where their conclusions can make a difference. This talk will draw on examples from more than 100 cases of Deliberative Polls in 29 countries. What are the criteria for evaluating these projects? What policy impact do they have? What are the ingredients for successful implementation? Some notable cases include the US (“America in One Room”) Mongolia (where there is now a law requiring Deliberative Polling for constitutional amendments), Texas (where the use of Deliberative Polling led directly to dramatic investments in renewable energy), South Korea (which recently used the process to make the final decision on the construction of two nuclear reactors) and Iceland (where the process was used in 2019 as an input by the government for constitutional reform.)

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