Any democratic institution has to grapple with the question of how to design spaces that enable inclusive deliberation, free contestation of ideas, and accountable governance processes. Too often, contemporary debates about deliberation and governance focus solely on the rights of the speaker, and the question of who has the right to say what, where, and how. This class will flip that question on its head, focusing instead on what research teaches us about how to design a plurality of spaces that enable both deliberative and participatory democracy for all kinds of people. Students will read and discuss the research, as well as try implementing the findings in labs, to consider and test their applicability to real life.
Please visit the Office of the Registrar for more information about this course.