Deliberative Engagement with Complex Policies

Elections are important for determining broad political direction, but they cannot by themselves effectively draw out voters’ preferences and interests in order to inform and influence the wide range of policy decisions required for the functioning of a modern economy. Engaging small, representative groups of the public in complex and controversial policy decisions can be one way to build a better understanding of the interests and preferences of the public about specific policy decisions. This chapter explores approaches that have been used across the world, from the Danish Board of Technology’s Consensus Conferences, the Brazilian experiments in Participatory Budgeting, to AmericaSpeaks’ 21st Century Town Hall events, and the UK Government’s Sciencewise programme. It explains why, when run well, such deliberative processes can have a profound impact on policy and its resulting acceptance by the public. However, it also points out they need much wider institutional adoption and increased deliberative capacity and sets out what both national and local government need to do more to address these obstacles.