Deliberative Mini-Publics

What are deliberative mini-publics (DMPs)?

Deliberative mini-publics (DMPs) are participatory processes in which a randomly selected and heterogenous group of citizens are invited to work together for period to develop recommendations, ideas or solutions on a specific issue. DMPs have been employed by political bodies and decision-makers on all levels of democratic governance to enrich political decision-making processes with the unique – and often otherwise unheard – perspectives of citizens. In democratic practice, DMPs span a variety of formats, including citizens assemblies and citizens’ councils.

The participants’ task is to propose solutions and ideas in response to policy issues or to recommend new ways to approach them. The citizens are supported within the process by professional facilitators. These ensure, through deliberative and co-creative methods, that all participants get to contribute their experiences, ideas and opinions and that, as far as possible, the group achieves consensus. Depending on the issue in question, the DMP process can also include input from outside experts, stakeholders or people representing different positions on the issue, in order to build a common understanding for subsequent deliberations.

As informal participatory processes, DMPs are not governed by fixed rules and therefore take on very different forms depending on the context, issue in question, or the political level at which they are formed. For example, DMPs at the national level, such as citizens’ assemblies, typically involve a much more detailed process, both in terms of the number of participants and their duration and scope. State-wide or national citizens’ assemblies often involve more than 100 people, who may meet repeatedly over a period of months. On the other hand, local DMPs (e.g. citizens’ councils)often comprise merely 15-25 people and issue their results within just a few days. DMPs typically convene in person. However, during the Covid-19 pandemic, many DMPs took place online or in a blended format.

The ways in which DMPs augment the work of policymakers and public administrators varies greatly. These range from one-off events to institutionalised committees comprised of randomly selected citizens. Such long-standing and institutionalised bodies may also table issues and questions on which upcoming DMPs can be convened.

The role of deliberative mini-publics in sustainability policy

DMPs are generally seen as having great potential to bring new ideas and perspectives to the public discourse on complex challenges such as climate protection, energy supply, or mobility, and to help achieve consensus, especially on issues where people have strong differences of opinion. They also promote an active understanding of citizenship and generate democratic experiences of self-efficacy for those involved. For this reason, they are increasingly used at all political levels and on different issues (See www.buergerrat.de for an overview of the different contexts in which DMPs have been formed in Germany). The principle of random selection ensures a high level of diversity in the composition of the groups. It also ensures that participants do not represent special interests or organisations and approach the issues in question primarily on the basis of their personal realities. DMPs are a particularly useful tool for dealing with sustainability issues because they make the everyday knowledge of citizens accessible as a resource to inform complex decision-making processes. Moreover, several studies have shown that DMPs can help find sensible and broadly beneficial solutions to controversial problems.   

The work of RIFS with deliberative mini-publics

RIFS monitors and supports DMPs through a variety of competences and roles.

Depending on the issue or question the DMP was convened to discuss, it may be beneficial to involve experts or evidence-based knowledge in the process. RIFS researchers have, for example, provided expert advice and sat on the advisory board for the civil society-initiated, national Citizens’ Climate Assembly. RIFS was also involved in the Berlin Citizens' Climate Assembly, helping to develop realistic everyday scenarios in advance, which formed the basis for the Assembly’s recommendations for climate policy in Berlin.

RIFS researchers also carry out scientific evaluations and quality assurance for numerous DMPs. Recently, RIFS, together with the Institute for Democracy and Participation Research at the University of Wuppertal, evaluated the Citizens’ Assembly on Germany’s Role in the World and drafted a set of recommendations for the Bundestag on the institutionalisation of citizens’ assemblies. RIFS also evaluated the "Forum Covid-19" citizens' assembly in Saxony.

In addition, RIFS researchers regularly contribute to the design of DMPs with process-related expertise. Like other forms of civic participation, DMPs require a variety of preconditions in order to deliver their intended results as well as the desired side effects. These preconditions must be determined in advance, which requires close collaboration with policymakers and public administrators as well as experts and civil society actors. RIFS advises various initiatives on the strategic and operational planning of DMPs. Currently, for example, RIFS is working with the German direct democracy NGO Mehr Demokratie e.V. as part of the LOSLAND project, which is setting up future councils in ten German municipalities.

RIFS researchers publish their reflections and findings on DMPs in academic publications. Some recent examples can be found here, here and here. Within international networks and research associations such as Participedia, Democracy R&D, or the Knowledge Network on Climate Assemblies, RIFS researchers work closely with partners from around the world to implement joint projects, for example the first worldwide citizens’ assembly, the "Global Assembly", which met in 2021.

Deliberative mini-publics as a foundation for vibrant democracy

DMPs are just one of many ways to enrich and strengthen democratic decision-making and transformation processes – especially when it comes to finding workable solutions to major challenges in the field of sustainability. The RIFS research area "Democracy and Sustainability" brings together a variety of research projects and transformative activities aimed at enriching democratic structures and cultures. The work of RIFS in monitoring and supporting citizens’ participatory processes, its work in policy advice, and its disciplinary scientific research all come together in this field of study, collaboratively generating new insights for democratic theory and practice through joint learning and reflection.