FIDE - North America

🫂 Addressing Polarization and Division through Citizens’ Assemblies Post-assembly reflections from participants in the Yukon Citizens’ Assembly on Electoral Reform reveal the transformative potential of deliberative processes. One participant assembly member remarked, “𝘑𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘣𝘦𝘤𝘢𝘶𝘴𝘦 𝘐 𝘥𝘪𝘴𝘢𝘨𝘳𝘦𝘦 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘮 𝘥𝘰𝘦𝘴𝘯’𝘵 𝘮𝘦𝘢𝘯 𝘐 𝘴𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘥𝘪𝘴𝘳𝘦𝘨𝘢𝘳𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘪𝘳 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘤𝘦𝘳𝘯𝘴... 𝘐𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘰𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘬𝘴 𝘪𝘵, 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘥𝘦𝘧𝘪𝘯𝘪𝘵𝘦𝘭𝘺 𝘨𝘰𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘰 𝘣𝘦 𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘴 𝘸𝘩𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘬 𝘪𝘵 𝘵𝘰𝘰, 𝘴𝘰 𝘐 𝘯𝘦𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘨𝘪𝘷𝘦 𝘪𝘵 𝘴𝘰𝘮𝘦 𝘤𝘳𝘦𝘥𝘪𝘣𝘪𝘭𝘪𝘵𝘺.” This mindset captures a key strength of Citizens’ Assemblies: fostering mutual respect and understanding among diverse perspectives. In interviews, participants shared that they were surprised at how well this process supported conversations across differences. 🔹 𝟳𝟲% 𝗼𝗳 𝗽𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗶𝗽𝗮𝗻𝘁𝘀 𝗳𝗲𝗹𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗔𝘀𝘀𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗹𝘆 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗿𝗶𝗯𝘂𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝗿𝗲𝗱𝘂𝗰𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗽𝗼𝗹𝗮𝗿𝗶𝘇𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗱𝗶𝘃𝗶𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻. 📌 The Yukon Citizens’ Assembly brought together 38 randomly selected residents over 4 weekends to learn, deliberate, and recommend reforms for the territory’s electoral system. 📚 The Citizens’ Assemblies Learning Series dives into these real-world experiences, sharing insights and lessons for future democratic innovations. 🔗 Learn more and download the case study: https://lnkd.in/dyC9qvtM #LearningSeries #CitizensAssemblies

🗳️ Yukon's Citizens' Assembly recommendations taken to plebiscite Early this year, the Yukon territory gathered a representative group of 𝟯𝟴 𝗰𝗶𝘁𝗶𝘇𝗲𝗻𝘀 to deliberate and provide an informed recommendation on its electoral system. During 8 days spread across 5 months, they learned the nuances of different voting systems and developed recommendations that 97% of survey respondents found fact-based and balanced.   Now, the Yukon Liberal Caucus has announced that these recommendations will be taken to a public vote, alongside the 2025 territorial general election. This feat represents one of the many wide-ranging effects of the assembly that continue to unfold in Yukon’s social and political life. ''𝗪𝗲 𝗵𝗮𝗱 𝘄𝗶𝗹𝗱𝗹𝘆 𝗱𝗶𝗳𝗳𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗽𝗼𝗹𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘄𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗿𝗼𝗼𝗺'' highlights an assembly member that captures very well the capacity of deliberative processes to overcome political barriers, with 𝟲𝟳% 𝗼𝗳 𝘀𝘂𝗿𝘃𝗲𝘆 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗽𝗼𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀 𝗿𝗲𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗼 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗶𝗿 𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗰𝗲𝘀𝘀.   In the October 2024 municipal elections, a month after the assembly, former assembly members Amzy Aboulazm and Alex Somerville ran for their municipal councils, while Kevin Adamson put his name forward for chief of his First Nation. Others report that after their participation, they are more likely to volunteer in their community and engage in political life.   “𝗠𝗮𝘆𝗯𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝗶𝘀 𝗮𝗻 𝗲𝘅𝗮𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘂𝘀”, says John Streicker, Member of the Yukon Legislative Assembly, who stresses how assembly members “showed more respect for each other than they did for holding on to their positions or their alignments. They were willing to listen to each other. That is something that gets lost in many legislative assemblies.”   📑Read the case study and learn how the Yukon Citizens’ Assembly on Electoral Reform enhanced learning, built community and decreased polarization through the research of our Lead Evaluation Fellow, Mary Hurner.

🙌 The 2024 National Conference on Citizenship (NCoC) provides a timely platform to examine how citizens' deliberation can address today’s democratic challenges! Join Marjan Horst Ehsassi and Amy Lee to discuss the role of deliberative democratic processes, such as Citizens’ Assemblies, in fostering inclusive participation and informed decision-making. They will discuss practical strategies for integrating these approaches into policy-making to strengthen democratic resilience and responsiveness. The conference will convene policymakers, educators, and civic leaders for a series of discussions on democracy, technology, and civic participation. It is an opportunity to explore actionable strategies to advance civic health and ensure that diverse voices contribute to shaping our shared future. 📅 Date: December 10th, 2024 📍 Location: Planet Word, Washington, DC 🔗 More Information and Registration: ncoc.org/conference #DeliberativeDemocracy #CivicHealth #NCoC2024

🌐 Thank you to the OECD's Public Governance team for a rich and inspiring convening of the International Civic Participation Network (ICPN) last week - Special gratitude to the organizing team including Mauricio Mejia, Ollin Pérez-Raynaud David Goessmann, Carlos Santiso Giulia Cibrario and Eloïse Gabadou Santiago   💡 FIDE - North America was pleased to provide an update on the Deliberative Wave in the United States, including insights and opportunities for our collective work given the new political context. With strong alignment around the need for more robust and systemic evidence-based findings, we are especially excited to contribute to this space with our new Learning Series and upcoming case studies ⚖️   📚 Huge appreciation to ICPN colleagues for organizing a book gathering for my book Activated Citizenship, The Transformative Potential of Citizens' Assemblies. After sharing my research and findings, we launched into a terrific discussion about designing for legitimacy, how we define success, the many impacts of Citizens' Assemblies, the challenges of shrinking/shifting civic spaces and the perils of manipulation. Thank you for a dynamic conversation - looking forward to future collaborations! 📚   Farewell to Mauricio - we wish you the very best in this next chapter and looking forward to staying in touch! 🧿   As always - enjoyed spending time with colleagues near and far including Yves Dejaeghere Doreen Grove Gaëtane Ricard-Nihoul Juliette Agez Antoine Vergne Jonathan Moskovic Cornelia Perle Dr. Nabila Abbas Cato Léonard Dr. Constantin Schäfer Alexis Prokopiev and many more      

👋 Meet the Citizens' Assemblies Learning Series team! Our team of evaluators is already busy interviewing, observing and analysing different Citizens' Assemblies across North America. Pim Trommelen, Mary Hurner, Miles Brackenbury and Laura R. will bring you curated insights and key learnings from some of the frontrunning processes in the region! Stay tuned ― the first case study is coming very soon. 🤝 In partnership with the Institute of Democratic Engagement & Accountability (IDEA) at The Ohio State University #CitizensAssemblies #DemocraticInnovation

🔄 How do we leverage the learnings and impacts from Citizens’ Assemblies?   With hundreds of deliberative processes taking place globally in the past decade, the expansion of Citizens Assemblies (CAs) is undeniable. Yet, evaluation practices have varied widely, hindering the comparability and consistency of learning across cases. We want to ensure that our understanding of the North American deliberative wave is enhanced with every Citizens' Assembly that is designed and implemented.    This is the objective of our new Citizens' Assemblies Learning Series! Based on a multi-methods approach, our independent Case Studies foster a more comprehensive understanding of how deliberative processes perform across different settings and topics. The evaluation methods include pre- and post-assembly surveys to measure participant views on information quality, process integrity, and belief changes, alongside researcher observations of full sessions to document neutral impressions. Additionally, in-depth interviews allow participants to share detailed personal insights beyond survey responses, creating a comprehensive understanding of the assembly experience and its impact. ☑️ This framework offers a comparative, evidence-based methodology to analyze the design, impact, and effectiveness of Citizens’ Assemblies. We thank our partners at the Institute for Democratic Engagement and Accountability at The Ohio State University and the Berggruen Institute for their support. 📩 If you'd like more information or want to get involved, reach out to us at [email protected] #CitizensAssemblies #DemocraticInnovation

𝗦𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟰 𝗨.𝗦. 𝗘𝗹𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗥𝗲𝘀𝘂𝗹𝘁𝘀   The recent U.S. election results reveal a deepening national division, further indication that our democratic model is struggling to meet the needs and aspirations of everyday people. Many Americans feel unheard and removed from decision-making processes, a disconnect that has been building over time as political institutions struggle to adapt and include a diversity of voices across our society.   At FIDE - North America, we see the increased public support for authoritarian practices as a response to the unfulfilled promises of our democratic system. We are in a pivotal moment to protect political institutions and their independence. Our mission is to work across various levels of government and public administrations to develop resilient democratic frameworks, such as Citizens' Assemblies, that engage everyday citizens in the decisions affecting their lives. Through programs that enable citizens to learn together and deliberate society’s toughest issues, we aim to strengthen mutual trust.   In this time of division, we remain committed to fostering deliberative processes that uphold and safeguard democratic values, human rights, and the rule of law. Only by bringing citizens together in dialogue and action can we create a democracy that truly respects and responds to the voices of all. This work is only possible by building a collective movement with partners and allies, who share our commitment to promoting a more inclusive, responsive and resilient democracy. #Democracy

🌵 Fall School on Citizens’ Assemblies 2024 With experts from around the country, participants from across 12 US states explored the building blocks of designing and implementing deliberative processes. We covered design considerations to ensure impact, learnings from case studies, and innovative methods to enhance deliberation. With the second edition of our schools in North America, we continue to build local capacity by equipping civil servants and community leaders with practical tools for implementing deliberative processes. We look forward to following our FIDE - North America School Alums as they design and implement Citizens’ Assemblies in their cities! Big thanks to our partners at the National Civic League and Arizona State University! ✨ Thank you to our remarkable experts: Mahmud Farooque, Matt Leighninger, Nick Vlahos, Peter MacLeod, Morgan Lasher, Linn Davis, Brandyn Keating #DemocraticInnovation #CitizensAssemblies

Guiding Principles for Citizens' Assemblies: A Collaborative Effort ✍   As deliberative democracy gains traction in North America, establishing shared guidelines and frameworks is essential to ensure high-quality implementation. Over the past months, we have convened numerous practitioners, experts, and partner organizations to articulate the key principles that define Citizens' Assemblies. The result, 𝗖𝗶𝘁𝗶𝘇𝗲𝗻𝘀' 𝗔𝘀𝘀𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗹𝗶𝗲𝘀: 𝗔𝗻 𝗜𝗻𝘁𝗿𝗼𝗱𝘂𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗼 𝗗𝗲𝗳𝗶𝗻𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 & 𝗚𝘂𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀, is a 𝗹𝗶𝘃𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗰𝗲 that will evolve through contributions from a growing community of democratic innovators.   The adaptability of participatory and deliberative methods to various contexts—regardless of resource levels or organizational structures—is a crucial asset for democratic renewal. The emergence of Citizens' Assemblies requires that we recognize the importance of setting clear expectations and standards to ensure their effectiveness. Success depends on 𝗱𝗲𝘀𝗶𝗴𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗹𝗲𝗴𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗮𝗰𝘆: well-defined processes that balance inclusivity, transparency, and impact.   By offering 𝗴𝘂𝗶𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗽𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗰𝗶𝗽𝗹𝗲𝘀 rather than rigid metrics, this document fosters a shared understanding among diverse actors while allowing flexibility for adaptation to various contexts. This process is dynamic and open-ended. We warmly invite actors from across sectors — whether government, civil society or academia — to participate in refining and expanding these guidelines.   We are grateful to those who have participated —National Civic League, Institute for Democratic Engagement & Accountability (IDEA), Berggruen Institute, MASS LBP, Unify America, Healthy Democracy and The newDemocracy Foundation— and look forward to seeing these shared principles evolve alongside our community! #CitizensAssemblies #DeliberativeDemocracy #DemocraticInnovation

Learning to address our democratic challenges becomes easier when you can rely on a good network. In our upcoming Citizens' Assembly School, the connections made will be as important as the insights from presentations and workshops. ▶️ Watch this to discover how other participants made their leap in previous schools! 📆 22-24, October 📍 Phoenix, Arizona 🔗 Learn more & register at: https://lnkd.in/di8BFExQ #CitizensAssemblies #DeliberativeDemocracy #DemocraticInnovations