Ireland's Effort at Remaking Democracy

Ireland embarked on a process of political and constitutional reform after the financial crisis of 2008. The government established the Convention on the Constitution, which functioned as a citizen's assembly. One notable achievement was the introduction of marriage equality through a popular vote. This success led to the establishment of subsequent citizen assemblies, including one on the topic of legalizing abortion in Ireland. The citizen assembly on abortion was well-run and had a significant impact on the subsequent referendum that changed Ireland's constitution, allowing the parliament to legislate on abortion. The Irish experience highlights the potential of citizen assemblies in tackling significant and contentious issues.