Pioneering Tech-Enhanced Citizens’ Assemblies

In 2024, the global stage is set for what's being termed a "mega-election" year, where attention is focused on the voting potential of four billion individuals worldwide. The predominant political fault-line of this era lies between democracy and autocracy. This shift begs the question: how did we arrive at a juncture where substantive policy discussions have taken a back seat to the defense of democratic foundations?

The rise of authoritarianism can be viewed as an unintended consequence of the current democratic political landscape. Large segments of society are disillusioned with a representative system that they perceive as failing to truly represent their interests, leaving them feeling marginalized in an increasingly globalized world. Moreover, the pressures of climate change, insecurity, and war fatigue exacerbate feelings of disempowerment. Exploiting these sentiments, autocratic forces capitalize on the weaknesses inherent in the democratic system. Citizens’ Assemblies emerge as democratic sanctuaries where individuals can engage with complex policy issues, foster dialogue, and seek common ground. In doing so, they provide a platform for overcoming polarization and reinforcing societal unity and democratic resilience.

Zooming out from the immediacy of 2024, the underlying causes of the democratic crisis reveal a pervasive sense of disempowerment among individuals. This sentiment extends to their ability to shape their lives, communities, and the institutions they belong to – whether it be workplaces, schools, cultural organizations, or local associations. This perceived lack of agency is intricately linked to feelings of dignity and belonging.

The escalating polarisation, characterized by "high conflict" scenarios, further exacerbates the erosion of trust and legitimacy in democratic institutions. In contrast to the constructive nature of "good conflict," which encourages open dialogue and curiosity, high-conflict scenarios foster a binary "us versus them" mentality, hindering meaningful engagement and problem-solving. Consequently, the legitimacy of democratic processes is undermined, leading to a breakdown in trust among individuals, governments, and institutions alike.

Beyond the realm of politics, questions loom large regarding the governance of institutions and corporations that wield significant influence over our lives. To address the root causes of the democratic crisis – namely, agency, dignity, belonging, complexity, curiosity, and trust – there is a pressing need to cultivate new democratic cultures, practices, and spaces. Deliberative platforms are essential, providing opportunities for genuine listening, acknowledgment of diverse perspectives, engagement with complexity, and the pursuit of common ground amidst shared challenges. This imperative extends beyond governmental structures to encompass all facets of daily life, fostering empathy, understanding, and collaboration in addressing the multifaceted issues confronting society.

In the current landscape where the dichotomy between defending democracy and embracing autocracy dominates the discourse, simply safeguarding the status quo is not enough. What democracy requires is a revitalization through governance innovations that fundamentally alter the distribution of power and decision-making processes. This conviction underpins our belief in the efficacy and significance of principles such as sortition (representation by lottery), deliberation, and participation, exemplified in deliberative mechanisms like Citizens’ Assemblies. These principles hold transformative potential not only for political systems but also for a diverse array of organizations spanning from educational institutions and financial entities to cultural establishments like museums.

In collaboration with the MIT Center for Constructive Communication (MIT CCC) and its social dialogue platform Cortico, we are pioneering the integration of technology into Citizens’ Assemblies to enhance all stages of the assembly process. In an era marked by technological upheaval, with social media and generative AI reshaping communication and democratic dynamics, our Tech-Enhanced Citizens’ Assembly Pop-Up Lab, a collaboration initiative between DemocracyNext and the MIT Center for Constructive Communication to leverage these technologies to create constructive, human-driven systems. Through the Pop-Up Lab, we aim to develop, prototype, and evaluate the Cortico technology tailored to support Citizens’ Assemblies, with a focus on increasing transparency, understanding, and trust in the deliberative process. Our vision is to introduce the concept of Tech-Enhanced Citizens’ Assemblies as a hallmark of a more inclusive, robust, and constructive democratic framework around the world.

Our solution serves diverse stakeholders, including individuals, communities, decision-makers, and organizations committed to inclusive democracy. For local authorities and governments, Citizens’ Assemblies offer pathways to enhanced legitimacy, accountability, and informed decision-making. By harnessing citizens' collective wisdom, authorities can develop policies aligned with community needs, thereby fostering trust and collaboration. Investing in Assemblies also mitigates risks and costs associated with failed policies, leading to more effective governance. Furthermore, our solution supports practitioners and facilitators by enhancing sense-making, storytelling, and deliberation, facilitating productive and inclusive processes. 

For citizens involved in Assemblies, they gain increased agency, representation, and social cohesion. Active participation empowers individuals to shape their communities, enhancing their quality of life. Additionally, Assemblies provide platforms for diverse voices to be heard and respected, which fosters belonging and empowerment. Our solution aims to amplify especially the voices of marginalized communities by ensuring their meaningful participation, addressing systemic barriers to democratic engagement, and promoting social equity and justice.

The DemocracyNext team stands as pioneers in the international research and design of Citizens’ Assemblies and deliberative processes. Led by Claudia Chwalisz, who has spearheaded the design of permanent Assemblies in Ostbelgien, Paris, and Brussels, our team brings extensive experience in driving innovation in citizen participation. Claudia, along with our Founding Head of Research and Learning, Ieva Cesnulaityte, led the OECD’s seminal studies on innovative citizen participation, establishing international standards and guidelines. Over the last year, DemocracyNext has coordinated networks, advised civil servants and elected politicians, and managed pilot projects across Europe, contributing to the institutionalization of deliberative democracy. 

Our partnership with MIT CCC / Cortico on this solution further strengthens our team capabilities in complementing our practical expertise with technical faculties. Informed by years of social media and media analytics, MIT CCC’s work combines the ancient wisdoms of human conversation with emerging digital technologies to promote shared understanding and trust rather than reinforcing the “side-taking” and binary thinking that too often divides us. In this solution, MIT CCC brings a highly diverse and skilled team of research scientists and prototype engineers, as well as senior advisors, all who will play an integral role in the development of the solution. 

Our collaborative experimental lab will focus on harnessing powerful AI technologies to create constructive, tech-enhanced, and human-led systems shaped by the proven model of Citizens’ Assemblies worldwide. The tools that are designed and prototyped at CCC enable us to add a technology layer to deliberation practices to amplify community engagement, easing the burden of the deliberative process while making it more transparent and accountable.

We have selected the Prototype stage because we already developed and piloted a tech-enhanced assembly engaging 12 MIT students as a proof of concept in 2023 (read more about the MIT Student Assembly here).

We are eager to join the MIT Solve Challenge because we believe our initiative strongly aligns with the objective of promoting peace through enhanced community dialogue, civic engagement, and reconciliation efforts. Our focus on developing Tech-Enhanced Citizens' Assemblies significantly complements the Challenge's emphasis on fostering inclusive and constructive democratic processes, which are essential for cultivating peaceful and resilient societies. However, a significant challenge we face is access to funding to realize the project, which we seek to leverage from the funding pooled for the Challenge. Additionally, recognizing the importance of addressing cultural barriers to community dialogue and civic participation, we aim to leverage Solve as a global platform to connect with partners with expertise in cultural sensitivity and community engagement, allowing us to effectively tailor our approach to diverse cultural contexts. Financial support is especially crucial for the expansion and scalability of our solution to reach a wider audience, and Solve's network of funders and investors offers a promising opportunity to secure the necessary backing.

Our solution, aiming to establish a Tech-Enhanced Citizens’ Assemblies Pop-up Lab, presents a groundbreaking approach to democratic engagement in the digital age. We are leveraging technology, such as social media and generative AI, to enhance the transparency, inclusivity, and effectiveness of Citizens’ Assemblies. Unlike traditional methods, which face challenges in engaging diverse populations and fostering trust, our solution harnesses these influential technologies to create constructive human-led systems that amplify citizen voices and facilitate meaningful dialogue.

Through this innovative approach, we aim to revolutionize the landscape of democratic decision-making by introducing Tech-Enhanced Citizens’ Assemblies as a new paradigm for inclusive and healthy deliberation. By embedding transparency and understanding into the Assembly process, our solution not only enhances the legitimacy of decision outcomes but also fosters a culture of civic participation and trust in (new and existing) democratic institutions.

Furthermore, our solution has the potential to catalyze broader positive impacts within the field of democratic innovation. In demonstrating the efficacy of Tech-Enhanced Citizens’ Assemblies through real-world pilots and rigorous evaluation, we can inspire other organizations and policymakers to adopt similar approaches. This could lead to a ripple effect, transforming the landscape by increasing investment in technology-driven solutions for democratic governance and amplifying the voices of citizens in shaping their collective future.

The theory of change behind our solution rests on the premise that utilizing technology to improve the Citizens’ Assembly process can yield systemic and lasting impact. In realizing this change, firstly, we will collect and analyze data from diverse community sources to ensure comprehensive representation. Synthesized insights will then be integrated into the deliberation process, facilitating informed discussions. Concurrently, we will refine educational materials, making them accessible and engaging for assembly participants, and develop visual archives to document the deliberation process effectively.

These activities will yield tangible outputs, including comprehensive documentation of community voices, synthesized insights from engagement activities, improved learning materials, and enhanced group cohesion. Participants will also benefit from engaging and informative learning experiences, facilitated deliberation sessions, and visual representations of discussions. The process will result in consensus-building on shared recommendations, with specific proposals drafted based on deliberative discussions and made publicly accessible through archives.

These outputs will drive a spectrum of long-term outcomes, including increased community participation in democratic processes and heightened awareness of societal issues among assembly participants. Furthermore, the process will foster trust and legitimacy in the Citizens’ Assembly, enhancing decision-making by policymakers and promoting the advancement of democratic institutions and governance practices. Our solution will ultimately cultivate greater trust and interest in citizen-led decision-making, elevate civic engagement, amplify the voices of marginalized communities, address systemic barriers to democratic engagement, and promote social equity and justice through inclusive governance practices.

1. Technological integration: Monitoring the integration of technology into the deliberative process will involve assessing the usability, accessibility, and effectiveness of Tech-Enhanced Citizens’ Assembly platforms. Positive feedback and increased utilisation indicate successful technological integration.

2. Capacity building: We will measure the number of individuals and organisations trained in conducting Tech-Enhanced Citizens’ Assemblies. Increased capacity demonstrates the scalability and sustainability of the initiative.

3. Knowledge transfer: Evaluating the transfer of knowledge, processes, and technology to CCC’s deployment partner, Cortico, and other stakeholders will involve tracking the adoption and utilisation of resources and toolkits. Successful knowledge transfer ensures broader impact and long-term sustainability.

4. Diversity of participants: We will track the demographic diversity of participants, including factors such as age, gender, ethnicity, and socio-economic status. A diverse representation reflects a more inclusive and equitable deliberative process.

5. Trust in institutions: Surveys and interviews will assess participants' trust levels in democratic institutions before and after participating in Tech-Enhanced Citizens’ Assemblies. An increase in trust indicates improved legitimacy and effectiveness.

6. Policy impact: We will evaluate the extent to which the outcomes of Citizens’ Assemblies influence policy decisions at the local, regional, and national level. Successful policy implementation demonstrates the effectiveness and relevance of the deliberative process.

7. Reduce polarization: We will introduce pre and post-surveys to all Citizens’ Assembly participants to measure their levels of empathy, trust, and respect as a result of people sharing their experiences rather than opinions or facts which leads to a decrease of polarization and an increase in connection, trust, and shared understanding.

The technology, that is being designed and prototyped at MIT CCC and deployed through Cortico, harnesses natural language processing (NLP) and artificial intelligence (AI) to elevate the quality and transparency of deliberative processes within Citizens’ Assemblies. Through NLP algorithms, we analyze and synthesize textual data generated during assembly discussions, enabling deeper insights into participants' perspectives, sentiments, and key themes. This analysis facilitates more informed deliberations by providing participants with a comprehensive understanding of the issues at hand, ultimately enhancing the quality of decision-making outcomes.

AI technology is employed to ensure greater transparency throughout the assembly process. Automated mechanisms are implemented to track and record deliberative discussions in real-time, generating accurate and reliable transcripts of assembly proceedings. These transcripts are then made accessible to the public through digital archives, enabling broader participation and scrutiny of assembly outcomes. By enhancing transparency in this way, we aim to foster trust and accountability in the democratic process, reinforcing the legitimacy of Citizens’ Assemblies as effective tools for civic engagement and decision-making.

DemocracyNext currently has 4 full-time and 1 part-time staff members, and 3 contractors, aiming to increase the team in the next 12-24 months. On this solution, we will work alongside team members from MIT Center for Constructive Communication.

1.5 years

At DemocracyNext, we are committed to cultivating a diverse, equitable, and inclusive environment that embraces the richness of human perspectives and experiences. Recognizing the intrinsic value of diversity in fuelling innovation, enhancing decision-making, and bolstering our capacity to effect positive change in democratic governance, we prioritize the recruitment and retention of a team (Staff, Board, Advisory Council) that reflects a broad spectrum of backgrounds, identities, and viewpoints. As our organization grows, we aim to establish clear and measurable goals to monitor this progress and ensure accountability. Furthermore, recognizing that fostering diversity, equity, and inclusion requires continuous effort and commitment, we aim to cultivate a workplace culture that embraces ongoing dialogue, educational development, and collaborative work. By creating an environment where all team members feel welcomed, respected, supported, and valued, we hope to not only enrich our organizational culture but also amplify our collective ability to drive meaningful change in democratic governance.

DemocracyNext functions as a non-profit research and action institute, delivering value to a diverse array of stakeholders through its innovative approaches to deliberative democracy. Our primary customers and beneficiaries include governmental bodies, policymakers, civil society organizations, and individuals invested in enhancing democratic processes and outcomes.

We specialize in facilitating the design and execution of Citizens’ Assemblies and other deliberative mechanisms, empowering participants to engage in informed decision-making and bridge societal divides. Our suite of products and services includes consultancy assignments for public authorities, action-oriented research, and educational activities around the tenets of sortition, deliberation, and participation. These encompass advocacy for democratic reforms, comprehensive research on democratic practices and their impacts, capacity-building initiatives, and collaborative partnerships. 

Customers and beneficiaries are attracted to our offerings for their potential to foster trust, mitigate polarization, enhance decision-making processes, and fortify democratic resilience. By furnishing stakeholders with tools, resources, and expertise, DemocracyNext empowers them to navigate intricate policy issues, cultivate civic engagement, and advocate for inclusive governance practices. Ultimately, our business model revolves around our steadfast commitment to advancing democratic renewal and empowering individuals and institutions to shape their communities and societies.

We are dedicated to securing funding for our solution by actively engaging potential donors, including philanthropic foundations, government agencies, and private individuals who share our vision for advancing inclusive and constructive democratic processes. Our strategy involves highlighting the project's potential impact on enhancing transparency, trust, and participation in decision-making to present a compelling case for investment. Through targeted outreach efforts, such as proposal submissions, networking events, and strategic partnerships, we aim to cultivate strategic relationships with funders and other key stakeholders that will enable us to achieve our funding goals. This approach has already been successful in our securement of $1.8m core funding - including repeat grants) from funders including the Rockefeller Foundation, the National Endowment for Democracy, Open Society Foundations, and One Project.