Event details
As public confidence in elected representatives reaches historic lows, how should democracies react?
This panel discussion with international experts will highlight measures to restore trust, with a focus on the role of citizens’ assemblies, a proven democratic innovation that enhances mutual trust and promotes social cohesion and belonging amid growing polarization.
The discussion will draw on insights from the newly released OECD Survey on Drivers of Trust in Public Institutions – 2024 Results, a landmark study that highlights the pivotal role of participatory and deliberative democracy in building public trust. Key findings reveal that citizens who feel they have a voice in government decisions are three times more likely to trust their national government (69%) compared to those who do not feel heard (22%).
Panelists will examine how deliberative processes and citizen engagement, such as citizens' assemblies, can help address long-term issues and close these trust gaps.
Speakers
- Ollin Pérez-Raynaud, Policy Analyst, Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD)
- Peter MacLeod, Founder and Principal, MASS LBP
Moderator
- Marjan Ehsassi, Executive Director of FIDE - North America
Series
This event is part of a series in collaboration with Columbia World Projects and FIDE - North America, aimed at uncovering the opportunities and challenges of implementing citizens’ assemblies in the United States. These virtual discussions with leading researchers and civic practitioners offer students and practitioners of deliberative democracy and all those interested in strengthening democratic practice insights into the transformative potential and limits of this increasingly popular form of deliberative decision-making.