Activated Citizenship
The Transformative Power of Citizens' Assemblies

By (author) Marjan H. Ehsassi

ISBN13: 9781032798561

Imprint: Routledge

Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

Format:

Published: 14/08/2024

Availability: Not yet available

Description
To counter pervasive levels of citizen disengagement from political institutions, this book examines democratic innovations that meaningfully engage with citizens to address some the deficits of western representative democracies. Citizens’ assemblies provide one such innovation, offering opportunities for more consistent participation between elections, more meaningful input in government decision making, and more impactful platforms for participation. This cutting-edge book introduces a new definition for an Activated Citizen, along with a methodology to measure civic and political engagement. Relying on a mixed-methods approach and field research conducted in Paris, Brussels, Ottawa, and Petaluma (California), as well as participant observations, over 180 surveys, 60 in-depth interviews and storytelling, the book provides case studies and in-depth analysis of hot-button topics including climate change, unhoused populations, democratic expression, assisted suicide and euthanasia. Each chapter weaves quantitative results with rich qualitative testimonies from participants, government representatives, and observers. Based on empirical evidence, the book explores the ways in which government-led citizens’ assemblies can promote a more Activated Citizen. To fully realize the transformative potential of deliberative platforms, a final chapter offers a blueprint for impact, outlining concrete measures along with recommendations for the design and implementation of future government-initiated deliberative platforms. Activated Citizenship urges the deliberative community to be more discerning and intentional to more positively impact participants’ knowledge, sense of community, enthusiasm, political engagement, as well as their sense of meaningful voice. It will be required reading for all students and scholars interested in political participation and democratic innovation.
Chapter 1. Democratic Malaise and Voice Insecurity; Chapter 2. Democratic Deficits, Citizens’ Assemblies, and Activated Citizenship; Chapter 3. France: The French Citizens’ Convention for the Climate (Comparative Case Study 1); Chapter 4. Belgium: The Brussels Parliament’s Deliberative Committee on Homelessness (Comparative Case Study 2); Chapter 5. Canada: The Canadian Citizens’ Assembly on Democratic Expression II (Comparative Case Study 3); Chapter 6. United States: Petaluma Fairgrounds Advisory Panel (Comparative Case Study 4); Chapter 7. A Blueprint for Activated Citizenship: Designing for Legitimacy & Transformative Change; Chapter 8. Afterword: Putting the Public Back in Public Policy; Index
  • Economics
  • Public ownership / nationalization
  • Tertiary Education (US: College)
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List Price: £35.99