Democratic Innovation and Deliberative Systems
Exploring how deliberative democracy methods can be enhanced through systems thinking to address complex policy challenges.
democracydeliberationparticipationgovernance
Overview
This project examines the intersection of deliberative democracy and systems thinking, investigating how citizens’ assemblies and participatory processes can be designed to better grapple with complex, systemic policy challenges such as climate adaptation and digital governance.
Approach
Through comparative analysis of deliberative processes across five countries and experimental design workshops, we developed enhanced deliberative formats that incorporate systems mapping, causal loop analysis, and scenario exploration. These methods help participants move beyond linear problem-solving to engage with systemic complexity.
Impact
- New deliberative methodology piloted in 2 citizens’ assemblies
- Research findings presented at the International Conference on Democratic Innovation
- Advisory role to national government on deliberative process design