{"id":4934,"date":"2026-04-10T19:15:27","date_gmt":"2026-04-10T16:15:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.doktorikool.ee\/?post_type=tribe_events&p=4934"},"modified":"2026-04-10T19:15:28","modified_gmt":"2026-04-10T16:15:28","slug":"avalik-loeng-vaikeste-arutelukogudega-demokraatia-ohtude-vastu-voimalused-ja-potentsiaalsed-loksud","status":"publish","type":"tribe_events","link":"https:\/\/www.doktorikool.ee\/en\/uritused\/avalik-loeng-vaikeste-arutelukogudega-demokraatia-ohtude-vastu-voimalused-ja-potentsiaalsed-loksud\/","title":{"rendered":"Public lecture \u201cCountering Threats to Democracy with Deliberative Mini-Publics? Promises and Potential Pitfalls\u201d\u00a0\u00a0"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\n\t\t\n\t\t\t24\/04\t\t<\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t \t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t10:15\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t – \t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t12:45\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

\ud83d\udccd Lossi 36-305 <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The lecture is held in English<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Anyone interested is welcome. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

There is an increasing perception that democracy is under external and internal threat. Deliberative mini-publics (also known as citizens\u2019 assemblies, citizens\u2019 juries, or deliberative polls), in which a randomly selected group of citizens come together to deliberate on policy issues, are increasingly seen as a promising response that could help to ground political debates in fact, develop innovative policy solutions, and reinvigorate support for democracy. Governments around the world increasingly commission mini-publics on topics ranging from abortion over climate change to gender equality, prompting talk of a \u201cdeliberative wave\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, we are yet to fully understand the potential benefits associated with mini-publics and how they can be integrated into existing democratic institutions. In this talk, I will briefly review the case for mini-publics and discuss my recent research into one of mini-publics\u2019 most significant potential benefits: their ability to improve perceptions of democratic legitimacy. Consistent with previous research, I find that holding mini-publics may increase perceptions of democratic legitimacy. However, I also find that improvements in democratic legitimacy are tied to conditions, including that mini-publics\u2019 policy recommendations are taken seriously and implemented; and that mini-publics are representative of the wider population. I consider why both implementation of mini-public recommendations and statistical representativeness can be difficult to achieve in practice, and sketch a future research agenda.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The lecture will be given by Micha Germann<\/strong>, Senior Lecturer\/Associate Professor, University of Bath (UK). He specializes in Conflict Research and Political Behavior, with a focus on ethnic conflict, democratic innovations, and quantitative methods. On the topic of mini-publics, he is particularly interested in how they are perceived by the wider public, challenges related to recruitment, and the potential of mini-publics in ethnically divided societies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This lecture is moderated by Professor Eva Piirim\u00e4e<\/strong> (Professor of Political Theory, Johan Skytte Institute of Political Studies).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In case of questions, please contact Kristel Vits (kristel.vits@ut.ee<\/span><\/a>), Johan Skytte Institute of Political Studies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Estonian Doctoral School for Social Sciences.<\/p>\n\n\n\t

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