What are deliberative assemblies?

Deliberative assemblies are groups of randomly selected citizens representing diverse demographics who come together to discuss and make decisions on public issues through careful deliberation. These assemblies aim to create more inclusive, thoughtful governance by giving ordinary citizens (or in our case, students) a direct role in decision-making outside of traditional systems of power.

As governance systems are failing to address some of society’s most pressing issues and trust between citizens and government is faltering, Deliberative Assemblies embody the potential of democratic renewal. They create the democratic spaces for everyday people to grapple with the complexity of policy issues, listen to one another, and find common ground. In doing so, they create the conditions to overcome polarisation and strengthen societal cohesion. They bring out the collective intelligence of society — the principle that many diverse people will come to better decisions than more homogenous groups.