No próximo dia 5 de Dezembro teremos mais um Seminário do Grupo de Investigação SPARC.

Título: Varieties of citizen engagement? The institutional design of deliberative innovations in Europe in comparative perspective

Authors: João Moniz, Roberto Falanga & José Duarte Ribeiro

Abstract: This study examines the institutional characteristics of deliberative mini-publics across various European democracies, utilising Lijphart’s (2012) framework distinguishing majoritarian and consensus systems. Through a comprehensive dataset of deliberative mini-publics, the research explores the interplay between institutional design features and broader democratic contexts. The findings reveal unexpected patterns: while more consensual democracies are expected to promote inclusivity and intensity in citizen engagement, evidence indicates that systems with majoritarian characteristics often exhibit more pronounced forms of participation and decision-making. This paradox suggests that centralized decision-making in majoritarian democracies may compel political elites to seek alternative channels of legitimacy through citizen involvement, particularly when traditional governance mechanisms appear inadequate. Furthermore, the study highlights the significance of elite preferences and institutional supply in shaping deliberative mini-publics, challenging the assumption that consensus democracies inherently facilitate more robust participatory processes. Overall, this research contributes to the cross-country comparative literature on deliberative minipublics, offering insights into the complex dynamics between political systems and participatory governance mechanisms.

Keywords:Democracy; Democratic innovations; Deliberative mini-publics; Europe; Comparative politics

Bio: João Moniz é Investigador de Pós-Doutoramento no Instituto de Ciências Sociais da Universidade de Lisboa e trabalha atualmente no tema das inovações democráticas e da participação dos cidadãos na definição de políticas públicas no âmbito do projeto de investigação Inclusive Citizenship in a World in Transformation: Co-Designing for Democracy (INCITE-DEM). A sua carreira inclui várias participações em projectos de investigação nacionais e internacionais. A sua investigação, em coautoria, tem sido publicada em revistas como South European Society and Politics e European Politics and Society.

O Seminário terá lugar às 14.30h, na Sala 2 do ICS e Online