Journal of Public Deliberation

Breaking News

Saskatchewan PM Promises Citizens Assembly in 2008 with Broad Democratic Agenda

Premier Lorne Calvert announced today that within six months of his re-election in November of 2007, he would convene a Citizen's Assembly to make recommendations on....

Recent News

Presidential Candidate John Edwards Wants Bi-Annual National Deliberative Democracy Called the "Citizen Congress"

This past Saturday, Senator and presidential candidate John Edwards called for the creation of "Citizen Congresses" that would regularly convene..

A Citizen Jury First: Changes PM's Mind on Cannabis and Casinos

In what might considered by some to be its “finest hour,” the most universally popular, and long enduring method of deliberative democracy (The Citizen’s Jury) has ...

New British PM Wants National Citizen Juries to Discuss Constitutional Reforms This Coming Year

Great Britain’s new Prime Minister, Gordon Brown, in his July 3 speech to Parliament on parliamentary ...- By Jim Snider to watch video, click here

Feature Articles

Prelude to a Quebec Citizens' Assembly: Seven Lessons from Ontario's Experience

The October referendum on electoral reform in Ontario was a catastrophe. Almost two-thirds of Ontarians voted against ... - David Litvak

A New American Democracy

Some men look at constitutions with sanctimonious reverence, and deem them like the ark of the covenant, too sacred to be touched. ...But I know (that) laws and institutions must go hand in hand ...- By Mark Twain IV

How Deliberative Democracy May Keep Pseudo-Democracy, the New Rule by the Few, from Bungling into Global Catastrophes

Imagine sitting in a room with 75 fellow souls, all of whom speak strange sounding English...Australian and New Zealandese - By Ted Becker

How and Why Deliberative Democracy Enables Co-Intelligence and Brings Wisdom to Governance

Over the past decade, state and local governments throughout Australia have focused on how to improve community consultation.. - By Janette Hartz-Karp

Works Of Fiction

Only From the Ruins: A New Global Economy

Strong evidence indicates that the present civilization is self-destructive and only radical improvements could prevent a global catastrophe - By George Sagi

Book Review

Future Search in School District Change

“Future Search” is one of many of the innovative ways of incorporating deliberation and dialogue into important policy making and planning processes that evolved during the latter part of the 20th century. - By Ted Becker

Citizens and governments: Stroppy adversaries or partners in deliberation?

In 1991, when I was a local government councilor, I proposed that the Lismore City Council convene a citizens’ jury to deliberate on the vexing issue of flood management - By Lyn Carson