Activated Citizenship: The Transformative Power of Citizens' Assemblies

by Marjan H. Ehsassi

Overview

To counter pervasive levels of citizen disengagement from political institutions, this book examines democratic innovations that meaningfully engage with citizens to address some of the deficits of Western representative democracies.

Citizens’ assemblies provide one such innovation, offering opportunities for more consistent participation between elections, more meaningful input in government decision making, and more impactful platforms for participation. This cutting-edge book introduces a new definition for an Activated Citizen, along with a methodology to measure civic and political engagement. Relying on a mixed-methods approach and field research conducted in Paris, Brussels, Ottawa, and Petaluma (California), as well as participant observations, over 180 surveys, 61 in-depth interviews and storytelling, the book provides case studies and in-depth analysis of hotbutton topics including climate change, unhoused populations, democratic expression, assisted suicide and euthanasia. Each chapter weaves quantitative results with rich qualitative testimonies from participants, government representatives, and observers. Based on empirical evidence, the book explores the ways in which government-led citizens’ assemblies can promote a more Activated Citizen. To fully realize the transformative potential of deliberative platforms, a final chapter offers a blueprint for impact, outlining concrete measures along with recommendations for the design and implementation of future government-initiated deliberative platforms.

Activated Citizenship urges the deliberative community to be more discerning and intentional to more positively impact participants’ knowledge, sense of community, enthusiasm, political engagement, as well as their sense of meaningful voice. It will be required reading for all students and scholars interested in political participation and democratic innovation.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781032798561
Publisher:	Taylor & Francis
Publication date:	08/14/2024
Pages:	302
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 9.00(h) x (d)

About the Author

Marjan H. Ehsassi is the Executive Director of FIDE – North America (the Federation for Innovation in Democracy – North America). She is also a Future of Democracy Fellow (non-resident) at the Berggruen Institute and a Senior Innovations Fellow at the Institute for Democratic Engagement and Accountability (IDEA at OSU). Dr. Ehsassi is a skilled advocate, strategic policy advisor and a movement builder. A fierce believer in the integrity of voice, she promotes citizen-centric democratic processes that are inclusive, hold government accountable, build civic muscle and are impactful. A lawyer, Dr. Ehsassi has worked to enhance space for civil society in some of the most complex environments including Cuba, Iran, and North Korea. She completed her Doctorate in International Affairs (DIA) at Johns Hopkins University’s School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS) with a concentration on democratic innovations, deliberative democracy, and citizens’ assemblies.

Table of Contents

Chapter 1. Democratic Malaise and Voice Insecurity; Chapter 2. Democratic Deficits, Citizens’ Assemblies, and Activated Citizenship; Chapter 3. France: The French Citizens’ Convention for the Climate (Comparative Case Study 1); Chapter 4. Belgium: The Brussels Parliament’s Deliberative Committee on Homelessness (Comparative Case Study 2); Chapter 5. Canada: The Canadian Citizens’ Assembly on Democratic Expression II (Comparative Case Study 3); Chapter 6. United States: Petaluma Fairgrounds Advisory Panel (Comparative Case Study 4); Chapter 7. A Blueprint for Activated Citizenship: Designing for Legitimacy & Transformative Change; Chapter 8. Afterword: Putting the Public Back in Public Policy; Index

Editorial Reviews

People all over the world are in a demanding mood. They want food, jobs, and security but, no less, a political voice. If democracies are to deliver, they must find innovative ways for citizens to connect with government and have input into policy making. Marjan Ehsassi‘s insightful book offers concrete methods  for doing so through deliberative processes, including citizen assemblies. All those who care about advancing and sustaining democratic systems can learn and benefit from her important work.”

—Kenneth Wollack, Chairman of the Board, National Endowment for Democracy

“A rich, first-hand exploration of democratic innovations in France, Belgium, Canada and the United States that yields useful lessons for how to repair the “voice insecurity” so perfectly identified by the author as central to our contemporary democratic malaise.”

—Hélène Landemore, Professor of Political Science, Yale University, USA, and author of Open Democracy

“If ever we needed a blueprint for democratic renewal and reactivated citizenship it is now. Ehsassi’s introduction to the Citizen Assembly provides an antidote to polarization and division. It is a practical model for meaningful citizen engagement. Activated Citizenship is a must read for a better tomorrow.”

—Melanne Verveer, former Ambassador-at-Large for Global Women's Issues and Executive Director of the Georgetown Institute for Women, Peace and Security at Georgetown University, USA

“Ehsassi’s Activated Citizenship is an approachable, meticulous, vigorously argued account of how assemblies actually work, how they succeed and fall short, and how they affect citizen attitudes and capacities. Using her own life experiences as a foreground, Ehsassi shows how deliberation scholars and advocates need to understand how ordinary people view these democratic innovations – not only the participants in these “mini-publics” but the many members of the “maxi-publics” that surround them. This is an essential book for introducing Americans to the types of democracy reforms that have emerged recently in other countries – ones that give people a voice, not just a vote.”

—Matt Leighninger, Director, Center for Democracy Innovation, National Civic League

“Dr. Ehsassi offers a compelling narrative and an extremely timely book. She draws on her own family's journey to argue that democracy must give everyone a voice and make the case that citizens' assemblies should be part of the solution.”  

—Hollie Russon Gilman, Senior Fellow, Political Reform, New America

“For democracy to remain strong, it has become increasingly important to integrate the people’s voice in new, safe and transparent ways into the process of policy-making in between elections. This new book by Marjan Ehsassi delightfully captures the evolution of Citizens’ Assemblies using four very different case studies from across the planet. It’s an accessible must-read book for anyone with an interest in democratic innovation or who wishes to properly understand the benefits of deliberative democracy.”

—Art O'Leary, Chief Executive, An Coimisiún Toghcháin, The Irish Electoral Commission and former Secretary, Irish Citizens’ Assemblies

“Marjan Ehsassi has immersed herself in the various processes of citizen engagement, providing an in-depth understanding of the guidelines and points of attention needed to strengthen these forms of democratic innovations to give citizens real decision-making power. A powerful and very useful analysis.”

—Magali Plovie, Initiator of the Deliberative Committees of the Brussels Parliament 

“Ehsassi's research is foundational for a field where theory can run ahead of practice. In Belgium, Canada, The United States and France, Ehsassi places herself in the room to closely observe, record and relate a quiet revolution that is reshaping representative democracy. Her book is essential to anyone who wants to understand what makes citizens' assemblies work.”

—Peter MacLeod, Principal, MASS LBP

“Marjan H. Ehsassi’s book brings the readers in to discover four prominent and intriguing examples of citizen participation and deliberation in Belgium, Canada, France and USA. The readers not only gain an insightful comparative analysis of these four Citizens’ Assemblies but also and above all have access to a blueprint for active citizenship. A must-read book that paves the way to designing deliberative democracy 2.0.”

—Min Reuchamps, Professor of Political Science at UCLouvain, Belgium

“Deliberative democracy is an important approach to revitalizing democracy around the globe. Ehassi’s book is a timely exploration of its potential for cultivating more informed citizens and constructive debate.”

—Ann Hudock, CEO of Counterpart International 

"In vibrant democracies, citizens are excited to lend their voices to the political process, and governments are attentive to them. Ehsassi’s fine work shines a light on the loss of voice that is all too common among citizens today and, through careful research, shows how citizens assemblies may help restore it. Her common-sense set of recommendations for the design and implementation of these assemblies offers a blueprint for rebuilding citizens’ sense of connection with their government."

—Stephen Ruckman, Managing Director, SNF Agora Institute, Johns Hopkins University

"In addition to providing invaluable guidance on specific aspects of citizens’ assemblies, with Activated Citizenship, Ehsassi has brought to life the transformative impact deliberative democracy has on the societies that adopt it, especially in the lives of the individuals who participate."

—Dawn Nakagawa, President, Berggruen Institute

"In this book Marjan Ehsassi presents thorough research on deliberative processes in North-America and Europe, highlighting the transformative capacities for their participants, the politicians involved and in fine our democracies. Because of the variety of experiences studied, she can point at commonalities, but also differences in ways processes stimulate what'she calls “Active Citizenship”. The recommendations Ehsassi puts forward at the end of this study should be on of every commissioners’ and designers’ mind when setting up a Citizens’ Assembly."

—Yves Dejaeghere, Founder and Executive Director, Federation for Innovation in Democracy Europe

From the Publisher