Recent years have seen a wave of interest in doing democracy in a more deliberative way, enabling citizens to participate in reflective and informed discussions about key policy questions before reaching decisions.
The Constitution Unit is at the forefront of applying such approaches in the UK. In recent projects, the Unit has taken part in running citizens' assemblies to explore how such bodies could help resolve complex policy problems. In other projects, the Unit has examined ways in which deliberative approaches to politics could be applied in the UK.
The Constitution Unit's work on deliberative democracy is led by Professor Alan Renwick.
Democracy in the UK after Brexit
A project using opinion polling and a citizens’ assembly to examine public attitudes to democracy in the UK. The project ran between 2021 and 2023.
Doing Democracy Better
Research into how we can improve the quality of information that is available during election and referendum campaigns and help voters to access it. This project lasted between 2017 and 2019.
Citizens' Assembly on Brexit
A project that allowed citizens to engage in reflective and informed discussions about what the UK’s post-Brexit relations with the European Union should be. It reported in 2017.
Democracy Matters
The work of two citizens' assemblies in Sheffield and Southampton in 2015, considering English devolution, local governance and Britain's constitutional future. It reported in 2016.
Deliberative Democracy archive
Access the archive of projects related to deliberative democracy.