Shaping Democracy: lnstitutinalizing Citizens' Assemblies in Germany (ShaDy)

Basic data for this project

Description

Citizens' assemblies have become an important tool in promoting participation in Germany. This presents a unique opportunity to discuss their permanent integration into the political framework. Our task force is dedicated to developing the transformational knowledge needed for this endeavor. According to the call for proposals, we focus on the transformation of the infrastructure of democracies, blending political science, legal research, and practical participatory expertise. Thus, we synthesize diverse perspectives crucial for institutionalizing citizens' assemblies. The project unfolds in three phases: first, a transdisciplinary phase to identify research gaps and practical problems; second, an interdisciplinary phase to analyze decision-making mechanism, explore institutionalization pathways, and draft recommendations; third, another transdisciplinary phase for expert discussions. Within this framework, three research streams drive our efforts: political science investigates decision-making mechanisms and assembly design, legal research explores incorporation into the political system, and policy development draws from both to create recommendations. Subsequently, we draft a comprehensive policy paper for institutionalizing citizens' assemblies in Germany. Through workshops and engagement with experts, we refine our communication strategy, research findings, and recommendations. In this way, we build feedback loops into the research process. We will also reflect our findings with students at the universities of Münster and Stuttgart.