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DIY Democracy: Breaking Down Barriers to Deliberative Engagement
In August, we gathered for an inspiring meeting at Codema's Dublin offices, and what unfolded was a day full of energy, connection, and possibility. After spending the morning co-working and getting to know one another, we delved into the topic of DIY Democracy—a concept whose time has truly come.
As democratic innovations like citizens’ assemblies gain momentum, more and more people are recognising their power to transform activism, community organising, and collective decision-making.
But there’s a challenge: deliberative engagement, with all its nuance and skill, often comes with a price tag that puts it out of reach for all but the most well-resourced groups.
How can we change that? How can we make high-quality deliberation accessible to more people, giving everyone a greater say in the decisions that shape their lives?
In our DIY Democracy workshop, we explored eight core features of successful deliberative mini-publics:
Political Buy-in
Random Selection of Participants
Paying Participants
Deliberation
Facilitation
Time and Space
Evidence
Decision-Making
Participants reflected on which aspects felt most challenging in their own contexts. We brainstormed how those features could enhance deliberative processes and, together, came up with ways to uphold these principles even without institutional backing.
What emerged from these conversations was more than just practical strategies; it was a shared sense of purpose and the drive to keep pushing the boundaries of what’s possible.
We left feeling inspired to build something bigger—a new community of practice dedicated to deliberative democracy.
This will be a space where those of us already practicing, or planning to, can come together, support one another, and continue to grow this movement from the ground up.
The future of democracy doesn’t belong only to the halls of power. It belongs to all of us, and by breaking down barriers, we can give more people the voice they deserve in shaping that future.
If you are interested in deepening your understanding and practice of deliberative engagement, and you want to join a supportive group of peers for mutual support, learning, and accountability, please email rebekah@involve.org.uk to find out more about our Deliberative Democracy Community of Practice.
Involve is recruiting Freelance Associates in Northern Ireland
Help us really engage the public in place based, net zero strategies for your area.
We are looking for local freelance project managers, participant support, event production and facilitators to engage fellow residents to shape a low carbon future.
💷 Amount: Up to £60,000 per year (3 to 4 years); up to £50,000 per year (5 years)
📆 Duration: 3 to 5 years
🕛 Deadline: Rolling basis
For: Work with the foundation to bring about a world in which everyone is free to move, and no one is forced to move.
Training: Podcast Accelerator
If you have a message to tell the world, and an audience that needs to hear it, there is no better vehicle to make that happen right now than a podcast.
NICVA are offering a training session called the Podcast Accelerator because in one day it will lead you through all the keys steps to launch a successful podcast, saving countless hours of research and mistakes along the way.
🗯️ Tell us a bit about yourself and what you would like from the network.
This survey captures network members' attitudes and perceptions of public participation and deliberative democracy on the island of Ireland.
We will use responses to better understand the needs of members, to evaluate the effectiveness of the network, and to demonstrate its value to members and funders at the end of the first year.
If you'd like to host fellow members for a learning call, a network meeting or co-working day, get in touch!
We're especially keen to hear from people outside of Belfast and Dublin who have availability from January 2025.
WhatsApp Group
A community thrives on communication and sometimes it’s easier to send a text message to chat through ideas or tell someone about an event.
Join the All-Island Better Democracy Network WhatsApp Group here.
Are you a member?
You may be receiving this newsletter but aren't actually a member of the network. We'd love for you to join!
Please fill out the form here to become a member and let us know where you're coming from and what topics you are interested in.
Involve, Community House, City Link Business Park, 6A Albert St, Belfast, BT12 4HQ, Northern Ireland and, Involve, Oxford House, Derbyshire Street, London E2 6HG, United Kingdom
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