Deliberative Democracy and Social Movements: Transition Initiatives in the Public Sphere

Description

Deliberative democracy is increasingly central in democratic theory and its concepts are employed in a growing number of fields, including social movement studies and environmental politics. At the same time, contemporary citizen activism seems to feature some forms of engagement that resonate with deliberative democratic ideas. This book provides an in-depth investigation of the qualities of citizens’ engagement from a deliberative democratic standpoint. The key concept through which such qualities are investigated is ‘deliberative capacity’, the extent to which organisations host authentic, inclusive, and consequential discursive processes. This book is based on a comparative study of four grassroots local initiatives, two from Australia (in Tasmania and Queensland) and two from Italy (in Emilia-Romagna and Sicily). By offering a critical assessment of deliberation in social movement organisations, this study identifies key aspects affecting their ability to pursue democratic deliberation and sheds new light on the role of community actors in deliberative democracy. Cover Half Title Title Page Copyright Page Table of Contents List of Illustrations Acknowledgements Introduction and Structure of the Book Chapter 1 Deliberative Capacity From Deliberative Theory to Democratic Life Summary An Introduction to Deliberative Capacity The Three Dimensions of Deliberative Capacity Authenticity Inclusivity Consequentiality Research Method Deliberation in Social Movements Conclusions Notes Chapter 2 Transition from a Deliberative Democratic Perspective Summary An Overview of Transition Framing Transition within Social Movement Theory Deliberative Democratic Theory and Organisations in the Public Space Conclusions Notes Chapter 3 Transition Connor A Case Study Summary Connor and Its Transition Initiative Transition Connor Deliberative Capacity Transition Connor Activities and Their Discursive Quality Group Meetings Discursive Activities Online Communications Practical Actions Individual Initiatives Casual Interactions Conclusions Notes Chapter 4 Notari Città di Transizione A Case Study Summary Notari and Its Transition Town Transition Town Notari Deliberative Capacity Transition Town Notari Activities and Their Discursive Quality Group Meetings Discursive Activities Online Communications Practical Actions Individual Initiatives Casual Interactions Conclusions Notes Chapter 5 Transition Dickson Hills A Case Study Summary Dickson Hills and Its Transition Transition Dickson Hills Deliberative Capacity Transition Dickson Hills Activities and Their Discursive Quality Group Meetings Online Communications Individual Initiatives Casual Interactions Practical Actions and Discursive Activities Conclusions Notes Chapter 6 Vaiai in Transizione A Case Study Summary Vaiai and Its Transition Transition Vaiai Deliberative Capacity Transition Vaiai Activities and Their Discursive Quality Group Meetings Discursive Activities Online Communications Practical Actions Individual Initiatives Casual Interactions Conclusion Notes Chapter 7 Comparative Findings Summary Deliberative Capacity in the Four Case Studies Life and Deliberative Capacity of Organisations Group Meetings Discursive Activities Online Communications Individual Initiatives Practical Actions Casual Interactions Conclusions Notes Chapter 8 The Drivers of Deliberative Capacity Summary Deliberative Capacity and the Relationship between Internal and ... Internal Features and Context in Accounting for Democratic Qualities The Generation of Deliberative Capacity among Organisations in Public Space Symbolic Associations and Closeness to a Movement’s Values Varying Styles Local over National Context On Variables from Earlier Research Same Movement, Different Associations and Different Capacities Enhancing Authenticity, Inclusivity and Consequentiality Debunking the Myth of Spontaneous Deliberation Reflecting upon Discursive Engagement Openness and Inclusivity Enhancing Inclusivity through Authenticity Connectivity and Safeguard of Democratic Qualities Deliberating under Difficult Circumstances Outward and Inward Functions Conclusions Notes Conclusions On Deliberative Capacity The Transition Movement and Deliberative Democratic Assessments Observed Levels of Deliberative Capacity Accounting for the Development of Deliberative Capacity Advancing Deliberative Capacity Notes References Index About the Author