Projects per year
Personal profile
Biography
Selen A. Ercan is Professor of Political Science at the Centre for Deliberative Democracy, University of Canberra. She advances Centre’s research on deliberative engagement and democratic resilience, and currently leads two Australian Research Council Discovery Projects in these areas.
Ercan's work combines normative political theory with empirical analysis to examine the conditions shaping effective deliberation and its role across diverse settings, ranging from structured forums to protest movements and the wider public sphere.
Over the past ten years, Selen Ercan has led or co-led more than $4 million in funded research, including 4 Australian Research Council grants. She has published three books and more than fifty journal articles on deliberative theory and practice across a range of contexts. Her recent books include Mending Democracy: Democratic Repair in Disconnected Times (Oxford University Press, 2020, with Hendriks and Boswell), and Research Methods in Deliberative Democracy (Oxford University Press, 2022, lead editor).
Her contributions have been recognised through multiple awards, including twice receiving the Best Paper Prize from Policy & Politics (2018, 2020), Dean's Research Excellence Award (2019, 2020), and the University of Canberra’s Teaching Excellence Award (2021).
In 2024, she received the prestigious Academic Leadership Award from the Australian Political Studies Association in recognition of her leadership and contributions to political science.
Ercan's work is commiteed to informing and improving democratic practice. She has led the design and anlaysis of deliberative town halls through Connecting to Parliament project, the development of the Building Democratic Resilience guidance, and the first national Guidebook for Deliberative Engagement for public servants and policy makers, in collaobraiton with the NSW government and the Australian Government.
She has held multiple senior leadership roles at the University of Canberra and internationally, including serving as the Director of Centre for Deliberative Democracy (2022-2026), Convenor of Higher Degree by Research and graduate research training at the Institute for Governance and Policy Analysis (2012–2018), Co-Convener of the ECPR Standing Group on Theoretical Perspectives in Policy Analysis (2020–2022), Chair of the Participatory Governance cluster of the global Participedia project (2021–2026). As Centre Director, she has twice led the Centre’s successful renewal at the Univerisity of Canberra and developed impactful research programs on deliberative engagement and democratic resilience (see CDD 2025 Annual Report for furhter details).
Full list of publications available in GoogleScholar
Areas of PhD Supervison:
Selen Ercan welcomes expressions of interest from prospective PhD students working on the theory and practice of deliberative democracy, democratic resilience, democratic innovations, and alternative or emerging forms of political participation.
Recent Interviews and Media, featuring Selen Ercan’s research:
- Six studies you shouldn't miss: UC hosts confernece exploring global health of democracy, University of Canberra, 2025
- UC and NSW Government launch new resourcese to brign everday Australians into government decision making, University of Canberra, 2025
- Deliberation at the Heart of Democracy. Uncover, 2024.
- Inspiring Women Series: Selen A. Ercan. BroadAgenda, 2024.
- Connecting to Parliament: Deliberating with Politicians. Democracy Technologies, 2023.
Related Links
Education/Academic qualification
PhD, PhD in Political Science, Australian National University
Master, M.A. in Political Science and Sociology , Heidelberg University
Bachelor, B.A in Political Science and Public Administration , Middle East Technical University
Expertise related to UN Sustainable Development Goals
In 2015, UN member states agreed to 17 global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure prosperity for all. This person’s work contributes towards the following SDG(s):
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SDG 5 Gender Equality -
SDG 11 Sustainable Cities and Communities -
SDG 16 Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions
Collaborations and top research areas from the last five years
Recent external collaboration on country/territory level. Dive into details by clicking on the dots or
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Politicians' perceptions of deliberative citizen engagement
Webb, A. (CI), SAVINI, E. (CoI) & AYIRTMAN ERCAN, S. (CI)
12/02/26 → 31/12/26
Project: Research
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Foreign conflicts, domestic divides: Advancing a deliberative response
AYIRTMAN ERCAN, S. (CI), DRYZEK, J. (CoI), McSwiney, J. (CoI), Dehghan, E. (CoI), Glazunova, S. (CoI) & Sengul, K. (CoI)
1/01/26 → 31/12/28
Project: Research
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CVE and Social Cohesion Research Program: Emerging Trends and Threats
AYIRTMAN ERCAN, S. (CI), McSwiney, J. (CoI) & Sengul, K. (CoI)
16/06/25 → 30/12/26
Project: Research
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Democratic Resilience: The Public Sphere and Extremist Attack
DRYZEK, J. (CI), AYIRTMAN ERCAN, S. (CoI), SASS, J. (CoI), Balint, P. (CoI), O'Flynn, I. (CoPI), Beausoleil, E. (CoPI) & Felicetti, A. (CoPI)
31/12/24 → 31/12/26
Project: Research
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Advancing deliberative engagement in Australia
Webb, A. (CI), AYIRTMAN ERCAN, S. (CoI), DRYZEK, J. (CoI), SAVINI, E. (CoI) & McSwiney, J. (CoI)
6/12/24 → 30/04/25
Project: Research
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Deliberative Democracy
A. Ercan, S., 2026, IPSA Companion to Political Science : A Practical Introduction to the 200 Most Important Concepts. Stockemer, D., Sawyer, S. & Gagnon, A. (eds.). Springer, p. 1-4 4 p.Research output: A Conference proceeding or a Chapter in Book › Chapter › peer-review
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The Citizens' Review That Could Have Been
DRYZEK, J., A. Ercan, S. & Levy, R., 2026, The Failure of the Voice Referendum and the Future of Australian Democracy. Appleby, G. & Davis, M. (eds.). United Kingdom: Anthem Press, p. 111-119 8 p.Research output: A Conference proceeding or a Chapter in Book › Chapter › peer-review
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The Trajectory of Democratic Innovations in Australia: Between Democratic Creativity and Institutional Stubbornness
Webb, A., Parry, L. J., A. Ercan, S., ASENBAUM, H. & McCaul, J., 19 Feb 2026, In: European Political Science. OnlineFirst, p. 1-13 13 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open Access1 Link opens in a new tab Citation (Scopus) -
Bouncing Back or Forward? Two Approaches to Democratic Resilience After Extremist Attacks
Ercan, S. A., McSwiney, J., Beausoleil, E., Fitzpatrick, C. & Felicetti, A., 2025, In: Political Studies. p. 1-18 18 p., 00323217251353659.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open AccessFile1 Link opens in a new tab Citation (Scopus)7 Downloads (Pure) -
Democratic Resilience: Moving from Theoretical Frameworks to a Practical Measurement Agenda
Biddle, N., Fischer, A., Angus, S., A. Ercan, S., Grömping, M. & Gray, M., 2025, ANU E Press, p. 1-33, 33 p.Research output: Working paper › Discussion paper
Open Access
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14th Interpretive Policy Analysis Conference
AYIRTMAN ERCAN, S. (Organiser)
26 Nov 2026 → 27 Nov 2026Activity: Participating in or organising an event › Organising a conference, workshop, ...
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Contemporary Threats and The Promise of Deliberative Democracy
AYIRTMAN ERCAN, S. (Speaker)
31 Jul 2026Activity: Talk or presentation › Invited talk
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Restoring Deliberative Norms after Extremist Attacks
AYIRTMAN ERCAN, S. (Speaker)
21 Jun 2026Activity: Talk or presentation › Oral presentation
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Deliberating after Violence: Parliamentary Debate after the Bondi Terror Attack
AYIRTMAN ERCAN, S. (Speaker)
4 Jun 2026 → 6 Jun 2026Activity: Talk or presentation › Oral presentation
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Not Just More, Better Engagement: Deliberative Democracy for Government
AYIRTMAN ERCAN, S. (Speaker)
19 Feb 2026Activity: Talk or presentation › Invited talk
Prizes
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Dean's Research Excellence Award (Team), Faculty of Business, Government & Law
Ayirtman Ercan, M. S. (Recipient), Curato, N. (Recipient), Niemeyer, S. (Recipient), Dryzek, J. (Recipient), Pickering, J. (Recipient) & Veri, F. (Recipient), 2019
Prize
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Ken Young Prize 2017
ERCAN, S. (Recipient), Hendriks, C. (Recipient) & Boswell, J. (Recipient), 25 Apr 2018
Prize
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File
Press/Media
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Who should determine the limits of free speech? From Royal Commission to public deliberation
Levy, R., AYIRTMAN ERCAN, S. & DRYZEK, J.
16/03/26
1 Media contribution
Press/Media: Research
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A Booster Seat in Parliament
A. Ercan, S. & Vlahos, N.
29/04/25
1 item of Media coverage
Press/Media: Expert Comment
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Summer profile series – inspiring women: Selen Ayirtman Ercan
7/02/24
1 Media contribution
Press/Media: Public Engagement Activities
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Connecting to Parliament: Deliberating with Politicians
20/12/23
1 Media contribution
Press/Media: Public Engagement Activities
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Study Findings from University of Canberra Provide New Insights into Politics and Government (Advancing Deliberative Reform In a Parliamentary System: Prospects for Recursive Representation)
A. Ercan, S., DRYZEK, J. & Vlahos, N.
6/12/23
1 item of Media coverage
Press/Media: Expert Comment