Engaging in Deliberative Democracy: The Role of Citizens in Decision Making

In today’s intensely polarized climate, political conversations can quickly devolve into heated arguments. But a process called deliberative democracy has found success convening people from across the political spectrum for informed, reasoned dialogue on contentious issues. As part of KQED’s Youth Takeover week, high school students Ryan Heshmati and Anaya Ertz bring together the head of Stanford’s Deliberative Democracy Lab with people who have brought deliberative techniques to local government to discuss how we can put dialogue and reason at the center of decision-making.

Guests:

Ryan Heshmati, senior, Saratoga High School

Anaya Ertz, junior, Marin Academy

James Fishkin, professor of international communication, Stanford University; director, Deliberative Democracy Lab

Claudia Chwalisz, founder and CEO, DemocracyNext

Rahmin Sarabi, founder and director, American Public Trust

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