Thursday, February 19, 2026, 1:00–2:30 pm.

Online

Deliberative democracy is an approach to democracy that strengthens how societies address shared problems through inclusive and well-designed conversations in which diverse perspectives are heard and reasons are weighed. In recent years, many government agencies have turned to deliberative democracy to improve public engagement and collective decision-making. At the same time, there is a risk that deliberation becomes a buzzword—used widely but applied poorly. So what makes deliberative engagement better and more effective? This seminar introduces the key principles for designing successful deliberative processes, drawing on international research and practical experience. It is based on the Guidebook for Deliberative Engagement, developed by the Centre for Deliberative Democracy at the University of Canberra in collaboration with Australian government partners. The session highlights practical strategies that help move from box-ticking participation to meaningful, effective engagement.
 
Selen Ercan is Professor in Political Science at the Centre for Deliberative Democracy, University of Canberra. 
Jordan McSwiney is Senior Research Fellow at the Centre for Deliberative Democracy, University of Canberra. 

Message from the Organizer

The Centre for Deliberative Democracy at the University of Canberra, Australia, is a world leader in both research and practice within the field of deliberative democracy. To summarize their workshops in a single sentence: practitioners bring together a randomly selected group of participants to engage in deep deliberation, with the ultimate goal of implementing those results into actual policy. We are honored to welcome Professor Selen A. Ercan, the Director of the Centre, and Dr. Jordan McSwiney, a leading expert in deliberative practice. Last November, the Centre published a comprehensive handbook titled "Deliberative Engagement: Key Features and Practical Insights." This guide is packed with detailed, practical know-how specifically curated for local municipalities and government officials who are currently facilitating—or planning to implement—deliberative processes. Notably, the handbook also introduces "Future Design" as a key methodology. While deliberative democracy and Future Design share common goals, there are undoubtedly nuances that set them apart. How exactly do their methods and practical applications differ? We are truly looking forward to their presentation and the insights they will share.

Prof Selen A. Ercan & Dr Jordan McSwiney, Centre for Deliberative Democracy, University of Canberra, Australia