Filozofija i drustvo 2022 Volume 33, Issue 1, Pages: 26-49
https://doi.org/10.2298/FID2201026J
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Deliberative democracy - theory and practice: The case of the Belgrade citizens’ assembly
Janković Ivana (University of Belgrade, Faculty of Philosophy, Institute of Philosophy), ivana.jankovic@f.bg.ac.rs
In this paper, we examine whether it is possible to improve democracy by
encouraging ordinary citizens to participate in political decision-making
and if participation in deliberative institutions can make citizens more
competent decision-makers. By using qualitative data, we analyze the
discussion from the Belgrade citizens’ assembly (CA) focused on the topic of
expanding the pedestrian zone in the city center. The CA was organized in
Serbia for the first time, as part of a research project aimed at promoting
and advancing innovative democratic practices in the Western Balkans. The
goal was to encourage the involvement of citizens in discussions of public
interest. Our hypothesis was that, through the process of participation and
deliberation in CA, ordinary citizens can make reasonable and informed
choices, increase their knowledge of the issue discussed, and become more
motivated to participate in political decision-making on the local level.
Our qualitative content analysis suggests that deliberation had a positive
impact on participants’ knowledge of the chosen topic of the assembly. It
also shows that citizens used exhaustive explanations rather than brief
statements, could differentiate the good arguments from the bad, and more
often appealed to general rather than private interests. Participants in the
assembly reported a significant increase in interest in political
decision-making that affects their lives, as well as a sense of being
informed about politics. Finally, we wanted to draw attention to the
challenges and open questions that remain, namely those that concern the
impact of a deliberative body on political decision-making in the real
world.
Keywords: deliberative democracy, citizens’ assembly, public deliberation, democratic legitimacy, political engagement
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