 NCDD member and former board chair, Martín Carcasson’s has shared his working paper, "Imagining the Robust Deliberative City," which highlights the need for meaningful public discourse in an era of eroding trust and rampant misinformation. He distinguishes between reactive public opinion and thoughtful public judgment, advocating for the latter. Carcasson argues that fostering robust public judgment is best achieved at the local level, where cities and counties can model democratic engagement through inclusive, collaborative discussions. He provides a road-map for local governments to build capacity for democratic engagement, emphasizing the creation of deliberative spaces, inclusivity, citizen education, and trust-building. Read more in the blog post below and find the full working paper here. Release: Imagining the Robust Deliberative City: Elevating the Conversations We Need to Support Democracy In an age where trust in institutions is eroding, fake news is rampant, and extreme rhetoric dominates our political landscape, the need for meaningful public discourse has never been greater. Martín Carcasson’s insightful paper, "Imagining the Robust Deliberative City: Elevating the Conversations We Need to Support Democracy," offers a compelling vision for how we can reinvigorate democracy by focusing on the local level—our cities and counties. The Power of Public Judgment At the heart of Carcasson’s argument is the distinction between raw public opinion and more thoughtful public judgment. While public opinion can be reactive and unstable, public judgment is characterized by a well-rounded, fair-minded consideration of issues. It’s about moving beyond simplistic solutions to develop stable positions that acknowledge the complexities and trade-offs inherent in public problems. Carcasson draws on the work of Dan Yankelovich, a pioneer in public opinion research, to underscore the importance of fostering conditions that support public judgment. In today’s digital and divisive age, these conditions do not appear magically—they must be actively created, nurtured, and sometimes defended. The Digital Age Dilemma The digital age, with its endemic mistrust and prevalence of misinformation, poses significant challenges to constructive public conversations. Social media platforms and partisan media often exacerbate our worst impulses, leading to crippling polarization and hyperpartisanship. This environment undermines the quality of our political discourse and further erodes trust in essential democratic institutions like the free press, civic culture, legislative bodies, experts, and even our fellow citizens. Given these challenges, Carcasson argues that our best shot at fostering robust public judgment lies at the local level. Cities and counties have unique opportunities to develop viable deliberative systems that can support high-quality communication and engagement. Why Local Democracy? Carcasson’s optimism about local democracy is both refreshing and well-founded. Unlike the national stage, which often brings out the worst in us, local governments have the potential to model the kind of democratic engagement we desperately need. Based on both research and practical experience, Carcasson outlines why cities and counties are particularly well-suited to become exemplars of healthy deliberative conversation. Local governments can leverage their proximity to citizens and the tangible impact of their decisions to foster more meaningful and productive public discussions. By focusing on local issues, they can create environments where diverse groups come together to work through problems in inclusive and collaborative ways. Building Capacity for Democratic Engagement To realize this vision, Carcasson provides a roadmap for local governments to build the capacity for democratic engagement. This involves applying known theories and practices from brain science, social psychology, and deliberative democracy to create systems that support constructive public discourse. Key steps include:
The Path Forward Carcasson’s vision of the robust deliberative city offers a hopeful path forward in a time of deepening division and distrust. By focusing on local democracy, we can create the conditions necessary for meaningful public judgment and reinvigorate our democratic processes from the ground up. In essence, the robust deliberative city is not just an ideal—it’s a practical, achievable model for how we can elevate the conversations we need to support democracy. By turning our attention to the local level, we can build stronger, more resilient communities capable of navigating the complexities of the modern world with wisdom and fairness. Working Paper URL: publicagenda.org/wp-content/uploads/Imagining-the-Robust-Deliberative-City.pdf 
0 Comments
Your comment will be posted after it is approved.
Leave a Reply. |
Categories
All
|
||
RSS Feed
Follow Us
ABOUT NCDD
NCDD is a community and coalition of individuals and organizations who bring people together to discuss, decide and collaborate on today's toughest issues.
© The National Coalition For Dialogue And Deliberation, Inc. All rights reserved.
© The National Coalition For Dialogue And Deliberation, Inc. All rights reserved.