Deliberative engagement in Australia and Germany

The Canberra Forum in Australia

In a follow-up to the Global Parliamentary Report 2022 dedicated to the public engagement in the work of parliament, the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) and the International Parliament Engagement Network (IPEN) have collaborated to lead the Public Engagement Hub, which serves as a gathering place to exchange experiences, discuss good practices, and connect through webinars, case studies, and an online networking platform.?

The Public Engagement Hub has recently hosted a seminar dedicated to citizen assemblies as? a method to engage citizens with policy making, where prominent examples of deliberative democracy methods were presented. In this document, we provide a summary of the main findings from Australia, where the Canberra Forum is a platform that aims to enhance the democratic process and rebuild trust among the people. It serves multiple objectives, including fostering a deeper understanding of the sentiments and concerns within the electorate and enabling Members of Parliament (MPs) to connect with their constituents on a more meaningful level. The forum facilitates open dialogue, allowing MPs to gain insight into the wishes and aspirations of the people they represent. It also promotes community cohesion, consensus-building, and inclusivity in the political environment, empowering citizens to actively participate in the democratic process. Each forum is developed for and with an MP specifically, for engagement with their constituents.

How does it work?

The deliberative process starts by sending thousands of invitations to citizens, ensuring a broad and diverse range of perspectives are represented.?

Through a sortition process, a random subset of participants is selected to form the forum, ensuring representativeness of the electorate’s different communities.?

The forum embarks on a learning journey by consulting experts and conducting community surveys, gathering valuable insights to shape its agenda.?

Constituency meetings are conducted to encourage in-depth discussions and deliberations on the agenda topics, facilitated by a moderator who ensures respectful and constructive conversations.

Participants strive to reach a consensus on the issues at hand, guided by the facilitator who promotes active listening and understanding.?

Once a consensus is achieved, a comprehensive report summarizing the findings and recommendations is compiled and presented to the relevant MP. This report reflects the collective wisdom and insights of the engaged citizens, serving as a valuable resource for policymakers.

What are the outcomes?

One of the results of the citizen participation process was a comprehensive report on housing in Australia. The report presented innovative ideas to address affordable housing, taxation inequality, and rental innovations. It provided specific steps for the federal government to take in crucial areas, setting a foundation for meaningful change in the housing sector.

The citizen participation process had positive and meaningful experiences for participants. It allowed them to engage in deep and thoughtful work, setting aside prejudices and contributing to a constructive conversation. Participants gained a sense of improved political agency, realizing their ability to have an advocacy role at a higher level. The process also improved civic understanding and respect for MPs, as participants gained greater respect for their work and workload.

“....what I found compelling was that people did really undertake deep thoughtful work, setting aside their own prejudices, it was amazing. It did make you feel good to be human. I thought Alicia [the MP] was very engaged. More engaged than I expected,she came to it all and really listened.” – Participant

“Very enjoyable, it confirmed my belief in the power of communal decision making. ... I gained greater respect for the work and workload of MPs and Ministers.” – Participant

For the MP, the citizen participation process had numerous benefits. It facilitated positive and constructive conversations about policy issues, expanding their network and fostering relationships with a broader range of community members. The MP gained a deeper understanding of their community's perspectives, enabling them to identify common ground and better represent their constituents' interests.?

Additionally, MPs' involvement in the process contributed to building their personal profiles through media coverage, interviews, and op-eds, allowing them to share their perspectives on policy matters with a wider audience.

In conclusion?

The Canberra Forum in Australia serves as a valuable tool for enhancing the democratic process and rebuilding trust among the people. Through a comprehensive citizen participation process, it fosters open dialogue, consensus-building, and inclusivity, empowering citizens to actively participate in shaping policy decisions. The outcomes include comprehensive reports with valuable recommendations, positive and meaningful experiences for participants, and personal profile building for MPs. Overall, the Canberra Forum contributes to a more equitable, responsive, and robust democracy where the voices and concerns of the people are genuinely heard and addressed.

“Hallo Bundestag” in Germany?

The Public Engagement Hub has hosted the seminar: Citizen Assemblies as? a method to engage citizens with policy making, which revealed new initiatives of deliberative democracy. One of the examples comes from Germany, where Citizens' Assemblies have proven to be a valuable asset to democracy as they ensure the inclusion of all voices in decision-making processes. “Hallo Bundestag” is an initiative to bring deliberative democracy to a whole new level.

Electoral District Days

Electoral District Days are a specific method of Citizen Assemblies which was piloted in Germany in 2021 and aimed to bridge the gap between every individual in Germany and the decision-making process in the German Bundestag.?

Electoral District Days follow a structured process that includes a one-day Citizen Assembly where participants engage in discussions on a federal political topic. These participants are selected using the Outreach Participation Method, ensuring a diverse representation of voices. The discussions are professionally moderated based on scientific input, enabling a constructive and informed dialogue. The outcomes of the Citizen Assembly are then presented to all Members of Parliament (MPs) in the respective electoral district. The process culminates in a direct exchange between the participants and the MPs, allowing for meaningful interaction and further understanding between citizens and their elected representatives.

The "Aufsuchende" Participation Method, also known as the Outreach Participation Method, is a proactive approach that directly engages individuals to ensure inclusivity and diversity of opinions in democratic processes. It aims to create a platform where marginalized voices are represented and heard. This method has successfully increased participant diversity in pilot programs and now focuses on fostering diversity and networking among electoral districts. By promoting long-term participation and establishing trust between Members of Parliament (MPs) and participants, the method seeks to combat disenchantment with politics. Multiple Electoral District Days will be held over a two-year period, and a network of former participants will be established to sustain engagement and mutual understanding.

The method offers a relatively high return on investment with low effort. One-day formats have already proven effective in generating substantial results and strengthening trust. In the upcoming Electoral District Days from 2022 to 2024, MPs will be able to receive timely and easily accessible feedback from their electoral districts on the latest political issues through the alumni network.

What Participants Say

“The Electoral District Day has strengthened my trust in Germany's democracy and our people - we are all not so different.“ - Quentin

“What impressed me most was that so much attention is paid to the individual and that you get the feeling that you can achieve something, even as a single person.“ - Sophie

“The Electoral District Day has changed the way I look at how to meet politicians. By meeting the politicians, distance was reduced.“ - Renate

“I believe that Electoral District Days can significantly strengthen our democracy. Especially because it often seems as if federal political decisions are so far away from the voters.“ - Paul

"After the constituency day, I am inspired and motivated to get more involved in politics.“ - Nelli

Overall, the Outreach Participation Method not only increases diversity among participants but also emphasizes long-term participation, reduces disenchantment with politics, and leverages the alumni network to facilitate ongoing engagement and diverse perspectives in the democratic process.

Bringing Citizen Assemblies to a whole new level

The next phase in the evolution of Electoral District Days as an established participation instrument is called "Hallo Bundestag", this will include:

• Conducting the "Hallo Bundestag" initiative in six carefully chosen electoral districts.
• In each electoral district, a series of three Electoral District Days will be organized.
• These Electoral District Days will address federal political topics with three distinct focal points.
• Participants from the individual Electoral District Days will come together in an Electoral District Council, where they will actively engage and oversee the process.
• Upon completion of the three phases, a joint closing event will be held in Berlin. During this event, the experiences and findings will be shared with all participants, Members of Parliament (MPs), and the interested public.
• The entire process will be evaluated by an external entity and will be supported by additional research.

Through the "Hallo Bundestag" concept, Electoral District Days will be further refined and expanded, with multiple districts engaged simultaneously. The Electoral District Council and the closing event in Berlin will serve as platforms for collective reflection and knowledge sharing, ensuring that the experiences gained during this process are effectively communicated to both participants and the broader public. External evaluation and ongoing research will help in assessing the impact and effectiveness of this initiative.

In summary, Electoral District Days have the potential to invigorate democracy by fostering trust, promoting cross-party dialogue, enhancing diversity in participation, and inspiring ongoing engagement in the democratic process.