Deliberative Democracy Summer School 2024

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF COUNTRY

The University of Canberra, where the Sixth Deliberative Democracy Summer School was held, acknowledges the Ngunnawal people, traditional custodians of the lands where the university’s Bruce Campus is situated.

UC acknowledges and respects their continuing culture and the contribution they make to Canberra and the region. UC also acknowledges all other First Nations people on whose land we gather. Sovereignty has never been ceded. It always was, and always will be, Aboriginal land.

THE CENTRE FOR DELIBERATIVE DEMOCRACY AND GLOBAL GOVERNANCE

The Centre for Deliberative Democracy and Global Governance (CDDGG) is the world-leading unit for scholarly and applied research in deliberative governance and democratic innovations. We are based in the Faculty of Business, Government and Law at the University of Canberra.

Our researchers bring together diverse fields of expertise, and collectively we advance a common research agenda that examines how deliberation can empower people to shape political decisions that affect their lives. We examine the ways in which political deliberation and discourse can be reasonable, reflective, and inclusive, and share these aspirations in both our research and teaching practices.

THE SIXTH DELIBERATIVE DEMOCRACY SUMMER SCHOOL

Over the course of three days, leading academics and talented PhD students from around the world delved into deliberative democracy’s most pressing issues, including global challenges on the climate emergency, pandemics and populism. The event provided a unique opportunity to discuss emerg-

ing themes, empirical findings and methodological innovations in deliberative democracy research, on a wide range of topics such as deliberative systems, mini-publics, social movements, transnational deliberation, non-human deliberation to feminist and decolonial deliberation.

The 2024 summer school was held from 7-9 February at the Ann Harding Conference Centre, University of Canberra. The event was generously supported by the Office of the Deputy Vice Chancellor for Research and Innovation and the Faculty of Business, Government and Law.

THE CLASS OF 2024

For the 2024 edition, Canberra welcomed a vibrant international gathering of twenty-five participants from sixteen countries.

Seraphine Arnold University of Stuttgart

Wendy Conway-Lamb University of Canberra

Bryan Lee Celeste The University of Newcastle

Roger Davis University of Canberra

Noemi Cipriano Scuola Normale Superiore

Hong Do Central European University

Madeliene Egan University of Canberra

Daragh Hamilton Central European University

Charles Ladia University of the Philippines Diliman

Olivia S. Mendoza University of Canberra

Hannah Forde University of Oxford

Anne Nygaard Jedzini University of Canberra

Nadine Malmberg Hollmann Aarhus University

Phoebe Quinn University of Melbourne

Iñaki Goñi University of Edinburgh

Raj Kaithwar University of New South Wales

Joanna Massie McMaster University

Emanuela Savini University of Technology Sydney

Vanessa Schwaiger University of Stuttgart

Nivek Thompson University of Technology Sydney

National Law School of India University

The University of British Columbia

Federal University of Minas

Pragya Yadav

Maria Fernanda Diaz Vidal University of Edinburgh

Lucas Veloso

Gerais

Erik Severson

Magni Szymaniak-Arnesen Adam Mickiewicz University

THE TEACHING TEAM

The summer school was led by a high-profile teaching team consisting of some of the leading international scholars in the field of deliberative democracy research.

Jane

University of Canberra

University of Canberra

Edana Beauvais Simon Fraser University

Paul Collis University of Canberra

Hans Asenbaum

Alver

Nicole Curato University of Canberra

Rikki Dean Goethe University Frankfurt

John Dryzek University of Canberra

Brigitte Geissel Goethe University Frankfurt

Daniel Kübler University of Zurich

Ricardo Fabrino Mendonça Federal University of Minas Gerais

Selen A. Ercan University of Canberra

Frederic Hanusch Justus Liebig University Giessen

Mikko Leino University of Turku

Simon Niemeyer University of Canberra

Jean-Paul Gagnon University of Canberra

Carolyn Hendriks Australian National University

Jordan McSwiney University of Canberra

PerOla Öberg Uppsala University

Jonathan

University of Canberra

University of Turku

Melisa

University of Bremen

Maija Setälä

Adele Webb University of Canberra

Melissa Williams University of Toronto

Mary F. (Molly) Scudder Purdue University

Ross

Pickering

PARTICIPANTS ACROSS THE GLOBE

Australia

Hans Asenbaum, University of Canberra

Paul Collis, University of Canberra

Nicole Curato, University of Canberra

John Dryzek, University of Canberra

Selen A. Ercan, University of Canberra

Carolyn Hendriks, Australian National University

Jordan McSwiney, University of Canberra

Simon Niemeyer, University of Canberra

Adele Webb, University of Canberra

Mohammad AbdulHwas, University of Canberra

Bryan Lee Celeste, The University of Newcastle

Wendy Conway-Lamb, University of Canberra

Roger Davis, University of Canberra

Madeliene Egan, University of Canberra

Anne Nygaard Jedzini, University of Canberra

Raj Kaithwar, University of New South Wales

Olivia S. Mendoza, University of Canberra

Phoebe Quinn, University of Melbourne

Emanuela Savini, University of Technology Sydney

Nivek Thompson, University of Technology Sydney

Jane Alver, University of Canberra

Jonathan Pickering, University of Canberra

Jean-Paul Gagnon, University of Canberra

Austria Brazil

Hong Do, Central European University

Ricardo Fabrino Mendonça, Federal University of Minas Gerais

Lucas Veloso, Federal University of Minas Gerais

Germany

Rikki Dean, Goethe University Frankfurt

Brigitte Geissel, Goethe University Frankfurt

Frederic Hanusch, Justus Liebig University Giessen

Melisa Ross, University of Bremen

Canada

Edana Beauvais, Simon Fraser University

Melissa Williams, University of Toronto

Joanna Massie, McMaster University

Erik Severson, The University of British Columbia

Denmark

Nadine Malmberg Hollmann, Aarhus University

Seraphine Arnold, University of Stuttgart

Vanessa Schwaiger, University of Stuttgart

Finland

Mikko Leino, University of Turku

Maija Setälä, University of Turku

India

Pragya Yadav, National Law School of India University

Italy

Noemi Cipriano, Scuola Normale Superiore

Poland

Magni SzymaniakArnesen, Adam Mickiewicz University

United Kingdom

Hannah Forde, University of Oxford

Iñaki Goñi, University of Edinburgh

Maria Fernanda Diaz Vidal, University of Edinburgh

Ireland

Daragh Hamilton, Central European University

Sweden

PerOla Öberg, Uppsala University

Philippines

Charles Ladia, University of the Philippines Diliman

Switzerland

Daniel Kübler, University of Zurich

United States

Mary F. (Molly) Scudder, Purdue University

THE PROGRAMME

The summer school brings together postgraduate students and early career researchers with leading scholars in the field of deliberative democracy. It aims to foster a safe, supportive and interactive space where participants can present their ongoing work and receive valuable feedback. The programme reflects these aims.

THE GARDEN TOUR

The summer school opened with a walking tour around indigenous sites on campus. Participants listened to Barkindji scholar Paul Collis as he shared insights on the deep importance of nature to Australian First Nations heritage. The tour culminated in the Ngaladjimas Gardens which hosts UC’s native plant collection.

Participants standing near one of the oldest trees in the ACT.

Participants walking and chatting.

Paul speaking to participants.

Tree near Ngunnawal ceremonial grounds (present-day Belconnen Way).

OPENING CEREMONY

The Faculty of Business, Government and Law’s Executive Dean, Uwe Dulleck, and Summer School Convenor, Hans Asenbaum, officially open the event.

John Dryzek reflects on the development of the field of deliberative democracy from its emergence to current trends. The opening ceremony was hosted by Centre Director, Selen A. Ercan.

KEYNOTE LECTURE

Melissa Williams (University of Toronto) delivered the keynote address on “Democratic Equality and Structural Injustice: From Deliberative Democracy to Abolition-Democracy?” This was followed by a conversation with Nicole Curato, which was chaired by John Dryzek.

MENTORSHIP SESSIONS

The summer school provided a wide array of mentoring opportunities, from publishing tips, to methods in researching deliberative democracy, to navigating academia.

MEET THE EDITORS

The workshop provided practical tips on how to frame an article and get it through peer review. Editors Hans Asenbaum (Journal of Deliberative Democracy), Jean-Paul Gagnon (Democratic Theory), Jordan McSwiney (Australian Journal of Political Science) gave insights into their editorial practice and answered participants questions. The workshop was chaired by Nicole Curato.

METHODS CAFÉ

Drawing on the open access book Research Methods in Deliberative Democracy, this world café format allowed participants to learn about a broad variety of methods to study deliberative democracy. Molly Scudder introduced “Deliberative Listening Index,” Ricardo Fabrino Mendonça “Frame Analysis,” Carolyn Hendriks, “Dramaturgical Analysis,” and Jonathan Pickering “Process Tracing”. The workshop was chaired by one of the book’s editors, Selen A. Ercan.

ROUNDTABLE DISCUSSIONS

Should academics be advocates for deliberative forms of citizen engagement or should we step back as objective observers of deliberative democracy in action? How can democracy be “future-proofed”? In the roundtable discussions, summer school participants critically reflected on the purpose and impact of research on deliberative democracy, and the potential futures of the scholarly field and practice of deliberative democracy.

ONE-ON-ONE MENTORING SESSIONS

Summer school participants were matched with a senior mentor from the teaching team who provided advice on specific challenges mentees face while working on their individual projects, as well as on navigating the field of deliberative democracy and academia more broadly.

PANEL SESSIONS

Nine panel sessions showcased the diversity of research topics of PhD students and early career scholars in deliberative democracy. Panel presentations were organised around themes of digital democracy, deliberation in the Global South, mini-publics, climate change, deliberative policymaking, democratic innovations, constitution-making, indigenous deliberation, local governments, and gendered and embodied resistance.

What metaphor best captures the state and future of deliberative democracy? Summer school participants and speakers brainstormed and shared their insights. The reflections were visualised by Canberra-based creative Arran McKenna.

CONCLUDING REFLECTIONS

To close the summer school, PerOla Öberg (Uppsala University), Edana Beauvais (Simon Fraser University), Daniel Kübler (University of Zurich) and Mikko Leino (University of Turku) shared their reflections and highlights. This session was accompanied by a visual recorder. This concluding roundtable discussion was chaired by Summer School Convenor, Hans Asenbaum.

FEEDBACK FROM PARTICIPANTS

Maria Fernanda

Diaz Vidal

University of Edinburgh

My experience during the Summer School was fantastic, both intellectually and personally. I was able to develop my ideas and thoughts regarding my PhD research project. I also met so many wonderful new people and friends whom I’ll be taking with me into the future.

Erik Liam Severson

The University of British Columbia

It has been an incredible experience because it brings people together who are just trying to figure it out and people who have figured it out in many ways. There’s mentorship and they will talk to you. Everybody that I have met here I have become really close friends with even in just a couple of days.

Raj Kaithwar

University of New South Wales

My key takeaway is what I learned from the people at the school itself that’s about being respectful and caring while conducting your research. So that goes beyond research and more personal relations and that’s something. It’s really nice to see senior scholars sitting face to face with junior PhDs those who are just starting their PhD and getting constructive feedback.

Seraphine Arnold University of Stuttgart

The organizers really did an incredible job because they really made sure that we felt welcome. They often checked back at us, and they were just so warm and welcoming and thoughtful towards us. They really succeeded in creating this space where everyone feels comfortable, and their voices heard even as early career.

FEEDBACK FROM GUESTS AND MENTORS

Melisa Ross University of Bremen

Part of the experience that I valued in this Summer School has been the fact that we have a rather diverse crowd. I think the community coming to the Summer School has been growing in past years and it’s becoming more diverse. There’s more people coming from Global South countries and I think it really improves the quality and kind of conversation we are having.

Molly Scudder Purdue University

It’s has been incredible to be part of the Summer School, to be with these brilliant PhD students and postdocs who are sharing their work and energizing dialogue we all had. The main takeaway that’s so impressive to me is for how many people the Centre for Deliberative Democracy and Global Governance is a home and for people who had been here before it feels like a home coming. It’s a place that means so much to so many people from across the globe.

DIGITALLY CONNECTED

DELIBERATING & CELEBRATING

In the summer school, the intellectual exchanges were interlaced with exciting opportunities to connect with scholars from different parts of the globe, have a chat during break times, or simply enjoy the natural beauty of the “Bush Capital”. Participants explored the Museum of Australian Democracy on a guided tour before the conference dinner at the Courtyard of the Old Parliament House. Capping off their visit to Australia, participants dived into the heart of Canberra’s wildlife at the Tidbinbilla Nature Park!

This year, the Centre for Deliberative Democracy and Global Governance is celebrating 10 years at the University of Canberra. At the anniversary celebration, John Dryzek, Simon Niemeyer, and visiting PhD student Maria Fernanda Diaz Vidal gave a toast to the Centre’s achievements.

Scan the QR Code or click this link to watch the recap of the 2024 Deliberative Democracy Summer School:

www.linkedin.com/company/centre-fordeliberative-democracy-and-global-governance/