Not Just More, Better Engagement: Deliberative Democracy for Government

Description

Deliberative democracy is an approach to democracy that strengthens how societies address shared problems through inclusive and well-designed conversations in which diverse perspectives are heard and reasons are weighed. In recent years, many government agencies have turned to deliberative democracy to improve public engagement and collective decision-making. At the same time, there is a risk that deliberation becomes a buzzword—used widely but applied poorly. So what makes deliberative engagement better and more effective? This seminar introduces the key principles for designing successful deliberative processes, drawing on international research and practical experience. It is based on the Guidebook for Deliberative Engagement, developed by the Centre for Deliberative Democracy at the University of Canberra in collaboration with Australian government partners. The session highlights practical strategies that help move from box-ticking participation to meaningful, effective engagement.

Period	19 Feb 2026
Held at	The Canon Institute for Global Studies , Japan
Degree of Recognition	International