Vorlesungsverzeichnis

Citizens’ Assemblies: Saving or Threatening Representative Democracy? (Seminar)

Dozent/in: Janosch Pfeffer

Termin:
wöchentlich | Freitag | 10:15 - 11:45 | 07.04.2026 - 10.07.2026 | C 16.203 Seminarraum | C 16.203!

Inhalt: Democracies around the world are under pressure from right-wing populism, polarization, and ecological crises. Elected politicians often face strong constraints—from upcoming elections and media reactions to party discipline—when making important decisions. At the same time, many citizens are dissatisfied with how democracy works in practice and doubt whether governments can address the most pressing political challenges. Against this backdrop, an unlikely coalition of actors—ranging from conservative and progressive political parties to scientific advisory bodies like the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) and activist movements such as Extinction Rebellion—has promoted a new political institution: citizens’ assemblies. Citizens’ assemblies bring together randomly selected citizens who develop policy proposals on public issues after hearing from experts and deliberating with one another. Supporters argue that such bodies can rebuild public trust and improve decision-making because participants do not have to worry about elections. Critics, however, warn that they may undermine representative institutions like parliaments or have little real political impact. Who is right?

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